Pōkeno Origin | Whisky Review

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: New Zealand, specifically from a distillery located 45 minutes south of Auckland, on the northern island, near the volcanic center.
Type: Single malt whisky.
Distillation and Maturation: Matured in first-fill bourbon casks. The distillery uses Scottish production equipment and traditional Scottish stills. The whisky is aged for three years and a few months, making it the distillery's first age statement whisky.
Age Statement: 3 years.
Color and Clarity: The whisky has a wonderful color, which is natural as it is uncolored.
Bottle Design: Heavy, well-crafted bottle with a three-label design and a plaque. It features a high-quality real cork, which is notable given New Zealand's prevalent use of screw caps for wine.

Balance of Flavors: Exhibits a balance between sweet caramel fruitiness, citrus, roasted vanilla, and intense oakiness from the ex-bourbon casks.
Unique Characteristics: Despite its young age, it has the taste profile of an 8 or 9-year-old whisky, with an oily texture, sweet aftertaste, and notes of licorice and dark chocolate.
Comparison: The flavor profile is reminiscent of traditional Scottish whiskies, likely due to the use of Scottish distillation equipment and practices.

Distillery Foundation: Pōkeno Distillery was founded in 2019 and eagerly awaited the maturation of its first whisky, which was achieved in April 2022.
Production Details: The distillery prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients, with barley coming from family-owned farms on the southern island of New Zealand.

New Zealand Origin: The distillery emphasizes its New Zealand (Kiwi) origin, representing the spirit of the islands. It marks a return to whisky production in New Zealand after decades without a working distillery.
Local Ingredients: The use of locally sourced water and barley from the southern island highlights the whisky's deep connection to its New Zealand roots.

"This tastes like an eight or nine-year-old whisky, which it can't be. Very well done for a first of a distillery." - Horst Luening, senior taster of whisky.com.
The distillery's decision to use real cork for the bottle closure is highlighted as "something extraordinary" and "best quality," contrasting with New Zealand's wine industry's preference for screw caps.

Pōkeno Origin is a New Zealand single malt whisky, aged for three years, and matured in first-fill bourbon casks.
It features a natural color and a heavy, well-designed bottle with a high-quality cork.
The flavor profile includes sweet caramel, citrus, roasted vanilla, intense oakiness, licorice, and dark chocolate, tasting older than its age.
The distillery emphasizes its New Zealand roots, using locally sourced ingredients and equipment reminiscent of traditional Scottish distilleries.
Noted for its quality and maturity beyond its years, Pōkeno Origin represents a significant achievement for the new distillery.

Whisky Enthusiasts interested in exploring whiskies from new distilleries and unique geographical regions.
Fans of Scottish Single Malts looking for similar flavor profiles in whiskies from other parts of the world.
Collectors seeking the first age statement whisky from a new distillery, especially one with significant cultural and geographical ties.
Beginners curious about the world of whisky, given its approachable flavor profile and the story behind its production.