Latest news with #PōkenoWhisky
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Pōkeno Whisky Grows Global Reputation With Big Win At The World Whisky Masters; Continues To Push Boundaries At Home
Pōkeno Whisky has added to its growing global reputation for innovation and excellence by securing a Master and two Gold medals at The World Whisky Masters 2025. The Master Medal, the highest honour in the competition, was awarded to the Winter Malt from Pōkeno's special edition Exploration Series. Two of Pōkeno's signature single malts, Origin and Discovery, received Gold Medals. Chaired by The Spirits Business, with a panel of leading spirits specialists, The World Whisky Masters are part of a highly regarded series of blind-tasting competitions. Pōkeno founder Matt Johns says the recognition supports the brand's global growth, placing the whiskies amongst some of the world's elite. 'We started Pōkeno with a goal to create great single malt whiskies that capture the essence of Aotearoa and to share them on the global stage. Recognition from The Spirits Business supports our credibility when entering new overseas markets. 'We're incredibly proud of our unique range of whiskies that we feel showcase the spirit of New Zealand and it's brilliant to see them holding their own against some of the best and biggest names in the business. 'It's also great recognition of the team's continued innovation and creativity when it comes to pushing boundaries to experiment with flavour and create world-class, but distinctively different, single malts.' It's this drive to push boundaries that has led Pōkeno to experiment with native New Zealand woods. Last month the distillery released a highly anticipated follow-up to its award-winning Totara Cask single malt, a kauri cask single malt, which sold out in record time. 'The Kauri Cask is the most original single malt we've ever made,' says Johns. 'Made from New Zealand barley, with New Zealand water and New Zealand wood, it's about a Kiwi as you can get.' The timber came from a Pokeno local who had been storing the slabs in his shed for more than 30 years. Despite the brittle nature of the softwood, master cooper Mike Tawse was able to build a 160-litre barrel that was filled in October 2023 with 3-year-old single malt which had been distilled in June 2020. "We didn't quite know what to expect when we started this journey, and it certainly hasn't been easy. It's taken years of patience and determination to get the whisky from barrel to bottle, but the result is something special.' About Pōkeno Pōkeno is a New World whisky distillery driven by creating one of the world's finest single malts and committed to using the finest local ingredients and traditional methods to create exceptional whiskies that capture the unique essence of New Zealand. Pōkeno is currently distributed to 25 countries worldwide.
NZ Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Pōkeno Whisky continues native wood cask range, works to put New Zealand on whisky map
NZME's On The Up is a national campaign showcasing amazing stories of inspiration, success, courage and possibilities. This is the story of Pōkeno Whisky, whose team have had a busy few years since the Waikato Herald caught up with them last. A strong, sweet and woody alcohol scent
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Pōkeno Whisky Appoints Dhall & Nash As On-Trade Distributor For New Zealand
With a growing global reputation for quality and creativity, Pkenos whiskies can now be enjoyed in over 25 markets worldwide. Award-winning New Zealand single malt whisky distillery, The Pōkeno Whisky Company, has appointed specialist liquor distributor Dhall and Nash Fine Wines to help build its presence across the domestic on-trade market. With a growing global reputation for quality and creativity, Pōkeno's whiskies can now be enjoyed in over 25 markets worldwide. And while it continues to expand into other international markets, Pōkeno founder and owner Matt Johns says the move to appoint Dhall and Nash underlines a commitment to sharing their journey of discovery with whisky lovers here in Aotearoa. 'I'm delighted that Dhall and Nash will be distributing Pōkeno Whisky to the on-premise market in New Zealand. As two family-owned businesses, we share very similar values around building and maintaining strong relationships, and their expert team is highly motivated to continue growing the market for our fantastic range of creative single malts,' says Matt. Dhall & Nash co-founder, Puneet Dhall, says he is excited to add Pōkeno to a portfolio that comprises some of the finest wine and spirits from across the globe. 'When Matt showed me around his distillery, which is one of the finest I've seen, the decision to work together was a relative formality. I'm a Punjabi boy from London steeped in the tradition of great whisky, and I can say with hand on heart that these single malts are world class – and we can't wait to showcase these exceptional and unique wonders to the good and great of New Zealand hospitality.' Dhall and Nash will distribute Pōkeno's full range of single malt whiskies. These include the signature range of Origin, Discovery, and Revelation; the Exploration Series, which includes the world's first single malt whisky to be finished in Totara casks; and its growing portfolio of special limited editions. The on-trade distribution partnership will complement Pōkeno's growing off-premise business, driven by its exclusive relationship with Liquorland.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Pōkeno Whisky Appoints Dhall & Nash As On-Trade Distributor For New Zealand
Award-winning New Zealand single malt whisky distillery, The Pōkeno Whisky Company, has appointed specialist liquor distributor Dhall and Nash Fine Wines to help build its presence across the domestic on-trade market. With a growing global reputation for quality and creativity, Pōkeno's whiskies can now be enjoyed in over 25 markets worldwide. And while it continues to expand into other international markets, Pōkeno founder and owner Matt Johns says the move to appoint Dhall and Nash underlines a commitment to sharing their journey of discovery with whisky lovers here in Aotearoa. 'I'm delighted that Dhall and Nash will be distributing Pōkeno Whisky to the on-premise market in New Zealand. As two family-owned businesses, we share very similar values around building and maintaining strong relationships, and their expert team is highly motivated to continue growing the market for our fantastic range of creative single malts,' says Matt. Dhall & Nash co-founder, Puneet Dhall, says he is excited to add Pōkeno to a portfolio that comprises some of the finest wine and spirits from across the globe. 'When Matt showed me around his distillery, which is one of the finest I've seen, the decision to work together was a relative formality. I'm a Punjabi boy from London steeped in the tradition of great whisky, and I can say with hand on heart that these single malts are world class – and we can't wait to showcase these exceptional and unique wonders to the good and great of New Zealand hospitality.' Dhall and Nash will distribute Pōkeno's full range of single malt whiskies. These include the signature range of Origin, Discovery, and Revelation; the Exploration Series, which includes the world's first single malt whisky to be finished in Totara casks; and its growing portfolio of special limited editions. The on-trade distribution partnership will complement Pōkeno's growing off-premise business, driven by its exclusive relationship with Liquorland.
