N.Z. whisky—new brand, but mixtures as before

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33460, 15 February 1974, Page 1

N.Z. whisky—new brand, but mixtures as before

(By

KEN COATES)

Nothing, not even whisky, seems sacrosanct these days. New Zealand’s very own was given a public tasting by the makers in Christchurch yesterday, and the representative of the distillery ordered a stiff tot — and splashed lemonade into his glass.

“Well, that’s how I like whisky, with ice and lemonade, and people should drink it howthey like it,” said Mr David Drake, Christchurch representative of Wilson Distillers, Ltd, Dunedin. There were, of course, the purists taking it straight and rolling it around in their mouths. Others had water and ginger ale with their fulli bodied “Wilson” blend, or the lighter “45 South.” It seemed difficult to find a disinterested whisky connoisseur among those knocking back free samples. Most present seemed to be either publicans or renresentatives of liquor trade interests. One man said no whisky was any good in view of the harm it could do. Another said the new product was a pleasant drink "which should

sell well to the kids, especially the 45 South.” Another couple of obviously well informed liquor men argued over how the new whisky would sell. “You can’t promote anything with water,” argued one. “Look at Bacardi and Coke — they all go for it.” One guest commented: “I’ve tasted worse — but it’s better than that dreadful Aussie whisky.” “Something like Japanese whisky,” said his companion. They invited journalists and N.Z.B.C. men along for a sip or two, presumably so they would say nice things about the product. One said that the more he had the less he liked it. But to be fair, another, younger, man said his drink had a bourbon flavour which he quite liked. The distillers apparently go to a great deal of trouble to get the right blend to their

product, even to having a man sniff the blended spirit (called nosing in the trade). And a great deal of the whisky is matured for three years in white-oak, once-used American bourbon casks. Even the chairman of the Hotel Association in Christchurch (Mr Arthur McGregor), who says if he drinks spirits then whisky is his drink, admits to taking it with soda. Mr Drake, the Wilson representative, said the whisky should be on sale in Christchurch by Wednesday or Thursday. It will be distributed on Monday. He said that the retail price had not yet been decided, but the "private trade price” was $4.65 a bottle (Johnny Walker, $5.70 at a wholesale merchants). The spokesman for one merchant said yesterday that he believed the price was to be $5.20.

New Zealand’s first distillery was in Dunedin, but the Government, hard up for funds to finance a railway, raised the duty on the local product. The tax was crippling and, after receiving £20,000 compensation, the company was closed in 1875. Today, Wilsons pays approximately $1.65 a bottle in duty, and every drop maturing is kept securely under bond. Wilsons comes from an area populated by the descendants of the men of the Highlands. It was Sir Walter Scott, who had one of his characters say of the “water of life”:

“If a body could find oot the exac’ proper proportion and quantity that ought to be drunk every day, and keep to that, I verily trow that he might leeve for ever without dying at a’, and doctors and kirkyards would go oot o’