Scapegrace Anthem Single Malt 700ml

Scapegrace Anthem Single Malt is a New Zealand whisky made by Scapegrace in Central Otago. It is distilled from Laureate barley malt that has been smoked over manuka rather than peat, then matured in virgin French oak and bottled at 46% ABV.

Buy Scapegrace Anthem Single Malt Online in New Zealand

Scapegrace began as a gin maker and now runs its own distillery beside Lake Dunstan in Central Otago. Anthem is one of its core single malts, released to overseas markets alongside the stronger Vanguard. The point of difference is the smoke. Instead of peat, the barley is dried over burning manuka, the native shrub, which gives a drier, more herbal smoke than the iodine-heavy style of Islay. New virgin French oak casks add spice and a firm wood grip. The whisky is not chill filtered and has no added colour, so what you see in the glass comes from the cask.

Scapegrace keeps its own tasting note short: spiced walnuts, cider apples and sweet hay. The manuka smoke sits in the background, so this suits drinkers who find heavily peated whisky too much but still want some smoke.

Pour 30ml neat into a tulip or Glencairn glass at room temperature, then add a few drops of cool water to open up the apple and nut side. It goes well with a cheeseboard, walnut and blue cheese, roast pork with apple or a piece of dark chocolate. Once opened, keep the bottle upright and out of the sun, and it will hold its character for a year or more.