Whisky distilled in Dunedin and matured in Oamaru will take on legendary Scottish brands Glenfiddich and Johnnie Walker at their own game in a precursor to the All Blacks-Scotland test match at the weekend.
Two months after two whisky brands from the New Zealand Whisky Co were named world's best at a competition in the United States, company spokesman Greg Ramsay said more of the company's whisky produced at the Willowbank Distillery now faced a test match against the Scots.
Mr Ramsay said the "test match" would take the form of a blind tasting organised by Edinburgh whisky experts.
"Scotland has never beaten the All Blacks in 107 years of rugby, but when it comes to whisky, the tables are turned. The New Zealand Whisky Collection will be the underdog against the world whisky powerhouse.
"Still, an upset in this weekend's blind tasting is far more likely than one out on the Murrayfield turf."
The company's whisky stock has been aged in Oamaru for the past 20 years, and Oamaru Maturation Store manager Debbie Preston said the company had recently re-commenced exports to Scotland, and the craftsmanship and quality ingredients with which it was made would stand it "in good stead" when taking on the Scottish powerhouses.
