New Zealand’s Scapegrace Distilling Co has celebrated a major win at the 2023 Global Spirit Whisky Masters.
The prestigious competition was held in London on the third of August, with Scapegrace’s Single Malt Fortitude V Whisky awarded the Master Medal, the highest honour at the awards.
Scapegrace Co-Founder Mark Neal said the distillery is thrilled to pick up the award.
“To be awarded a Master Medal at the highly acclaimed Global World Whisky Masters is a fantastic achievement for our whole team,” said Neal.
“The New Zealand movement of Single Malt on the world stage is relatively new, so to pick up such an acclaimed accolade amongst the world’s best is a dream come true.”
Fortitude V was recognised by the judges for its light smoke on the nose and complexity and smooth palate with hints of smoke and sweetness.
Neal said the Fortitude V is a manuka smoked single malt which is aged three years in a virgin French oak cask. This provides the whiskey with a unique, distinct manuka style that the distillery is very proud of, and it has been distilled with water from the Southern Alps. Local manuka was used in the malting process.
“This is a huge win for our international reputation and again shows that we’re right up there with the best in the world.”
The World Whiskey Masters has been regarded as the world's most highly regarded spirits blind-tasting competition.
It wasn’t the only win for Scapegrace at the competition, with the brand also picking up a gold medal for its Fortuna VI manuka smoked single malt whiskey, and Silver for Dimension VII, its classic blend.
The success continues a proud international award-winning legacy for the Central Otago distillery. In 2018 Scapegrace Gin was voted World’s Best London Dry Gin at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition.
