It’s been a busy few years for independently owned Scapegrace Distilling Company, with two significant new releases – the addition of a single malt whisky to its spirits range of gin and vodka and the opening of the first phase of a $25 million distillery. “There is no victory in easy,” says Mark Neal, one of two brothers-in-law who established Scapegrace 10 years ago.

Indeed, while the first batch of whisky was slowly ageing, Scapegrace was rapidly evolving. In September 2019, it celebrated the sell-out within 24 hours of its new Scapegrace Black Gin; under a year later, it launched the acclaimed Scapegrace Vodka. Jump forward to 2021, and the company became the first NZ brand to produce RTDs which use handcrafted distilled spirits rather than flavoured ethanol. A vast new distillery, equally as stylish as the Scapegrace black glass bottles, is also well underway.

The first phase of the 36-hectare Central Otago development – including barrel room, head office, operations hub, bottling hall and warehouse – is currently taking shape beside Lake Dunstan, 45 minutes from Queenstown and 30 minutes from Wānaka. When fully complete (scheduled for October 2023), the chic distillery – claimed to be New Zealand’s largest – will enable them to increase production and offer a full brand experience, with a food and beverage offering.

“When we started, there was only one other New Zealand gin on the domestic market, now there is over 220 gin brands, which is great for the industry. Mark, who is not only a co-founder but also the company’s head of marketing, says “100 years from now, New Zealand will be renowned as a nation that produces the world's best spirits where Scapegrace will be thriving as the grandfathers of the tradition.”

The company acquired an award-winning single malt whisky distillery four years ago and has been “quietly putting down” single malt whisky since. The first releases are now available – which sold out on 100% allocation to its 38 global markets. Aged for five years in virgin French oak, Scapegrace’s Premium Single Malt is creamy, with hints of cinnamon and cloves and comes in bespoke bottles that are more siblings than exact replicas of the Scapegrace gin vessels. “We have the same DNA in all our bottles, just like a family. You only get a split second at point of purchase, so design aesthetic alongside storytelling is critical. 

New world whisky is currently in demand worldwide, and reviews for Scapegrace’s new offering are good, thanks to the talents of master distiller Anthony Lawry, and there are plans to increase production 20-fold.

The vast new distillery increases production capability significantly, with ample space for whisky to age, while stills produce gin varieties – Classic, Gold, Black – and Uncommon special releases.

While the distillery is developing a footprint in the spirits world, its owners – Mark and his brother-in-law Daniel McLaughlin – don’t want to leave an imprint regarding environmental impact. 

“We are focusing just as much on our carbon-zero strategy,” Mark says. 

The distillery is built from timber rather than steel; fossil-fuelled boilers were dismissed for electrode boilers; and steel tanks are repurposed where possible. Plans are afoot for a walking track through the sprawling Bendigo landscape for the locals and tourists to enjoy, and $150,000 will be invested in kānuka trees.

And this is just the beginning for the brothers-in-law combo putting it all on the line to make the world’s best spirits here in New Zealand.