NEW ZEALAND DISTILLERY WHISKEY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3890, 9 February 1870, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND DISTILLERY WHISKEY.

We have received a sample of the first shipment of New Zealand distillery whiskey, from. Messrs. Samson, Frasex*, and Co., of tins city. This whiskey is manufactured, in Duneclm, at the large distillery lately established there by Messrs. 0. Howden and Co., under the recent Distillation Act of the General Assembly, which imposes only half the usual duty on colonial-made spirits. The duty on imported spirits is 12s. per gallon, and on the colonial-made product 6s. per gallon. In point of flavour, strength, and purity, the New Zealand distillery whiskey is an excellent one, and, when matured by keeping in the wood for a year, we have no hesitation in saying that it will compare favourably with many of the best imported Scotch and Irish malt whiskeys. A connoisseur tasting the New Zealand ■whiskey, and comparing it with some of the Islay and Campbeltown malt spirits, imported in wood or bottle, would pronounce the former to be somewhat fiery. That, however, proves nothing against the New Zealand sphits. Malt whiskey, when newly manufactured, is always warehoused at a strengbh of eleven degrees over proof. Should it remain about a year in cask before being consumed, it falls considerably in strength, the essential oil and coarser qualities of the spirit being absorbed into the wood, thus rendering 1 what is left a fine mellow article — smooth to the palate and warming to the stomach. The New Zealand whiskey is a little fiery, simply because it is new, but after bemg kept a short time it will acquire all the desiderated qualities of the more matured imported article. To our Scotch friends, who enjoy a glass of "toddy," the New Zealand whiskey can safely be recommended. It has been found that this whiskey can be sold in Dunedm at 7s. 6d. per gallon in bond, which with 6s. of duty added, willmake the wholesale price there 13s. 6d. per gallon. Freight and other charges to Auckland will bring this up to 15s. per gallon. At this price, we think the spirit should be able to compete fairly in the market with the inmorted article. Of course, as the business of distillation becomes more firmly established in New Zealand, and a larger amount of barley is grown for malting purposes, the cost of production will naturally be lessened. Meantime the establishment of this branch of manufacture is calculated, in a business point of view, to bo productive of much benefit to the colony. So long as people will drink, they are better to manufacture their liquor than import it. By doing the former, the farmer will fnd a local market for his barley ; the distiller will employ a large amount of labour in maltmaking, mashing, and distilling : while the manufacture of the necessary plant will furnish work to local still-makers and ironfounders. It is true that the Customs revenue may suffer in a slight degree, but the other benefits conferred will outweigh this. Above all, it must be remembered that the money employed in this manufacture will be kept within the colony, instead of being sent out of it, and that is a most important consideration. That which has been done by Ofcago might by-and-by be done by Auckland. If the settlers of the Waikato will grow barley, it woxild be an excellent speculation to erect a distillery and use that grain for the production of malt spirits. We are informed that geneva and spirits of wine are also manufactured at Dunedin by Messrs. Howden and Co.