Today, the Pōkeno Whisky Company handles all processing on site at a state-of-the-art distillery with maturation warehouses, filtration and bottling facilities, and a fully functional cooperage.
Everything done here is driven by a goal to create one of the world’s great Single Malts. Batch production, long fermentation, and slow distillation are just a few of the things that help make them different. As craft distillers, they are also able to focus on quality over quantity and on doing things their way, not the easy way.
Using only pure volcanic spring water from the North Island distillery’s surrounding volcanic hills and family-farmed barley from New Zealand’s rich, fertile South Island, Pōkeno selects only the finest casks to mature their precious spirit, and the warm subtropical local climate accelerates its maturation and flavor development.
All of this allows Pōkeno to produce Single Malt whisky with exceptional body and flavor; whisky that captures the pure spirit of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Pōkeno Origin
Bottled at 43% abv.
2023 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards – Best World Single Malt – Gold, 94 pts.
Pōkeno Discovery
Bottled at 43% abv.
2023 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards – Gold, 90 pts.
Pōkeno US Exclusive PX Sherry Single Cask #71
The incredible Single Malt found in Pōkeno PX Sherry Cask #71 has had a full maturation for 4 years in a PX Sherry Cask from Miguel Martin.
The result is a whisky of incredible depth and complexity.
There are rich notes of ripe cherries, Black Forest Gâteau, sultanas, and chocolate.
The finish is rich and incredibly long.
56.5% abv
US Exclusive Single Cask – 336 bottles
Pōkeno Prohibition
For this special edition, after a full maturation in a first fill Bourbon cask, we have finished the whisky in a barrel which we lent to our friends at Liberty Brewing, for the maturation of their fantastic Prohibition Porter.
The result is an incredibly smooth and rich Single Malt, with notes of cocoa and chocolate, which combine beautifully with the citrus and vanilla. We hope that you have as much fun with this as we have.
Bottled at 46% abv
Limited Release, 360 bottles for the US
Pōkeno Totara Cask
Totara is the indigenous tree that built Aotearoa. From the arrival of Maori, the timber from this tree was used to build waka, homes, carvings, weapons and containers for storing food. The wood is hard and straight grained, with very sweet and creamy notes when toasted.
In New Zealand’s only working Cooperage, Mike our Cooper has handcrafted what are the world’s first ever 200-liter totara barrels for maturing whisky, and given them a light toast and a light char.
After a full maturation in first fill Bourbon casks, we have transferred the whisky to the Totara barrels for a second maturation period.
Bottled at 46% abv.
Lomited release – 402 bottles for the US
On the nose there are notes of creamy coconut, sweet scented sap, ripe white peach, and freshly cut wood. In the mouth we discover bitter lemon, stone fruit, and hints of dark chocolate for a long and sweet finish.
Pōkeno Winter Malt
Our Winter Malt was inspired by the unique selection of New Zealand malts that we chose for our mashbill.
Manuka Smoked Malt: The Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand, and this is the world’s only manuka smoked malt. It has a smooth, sweet smokiness
Chocolate Roasted Malt: This is specially roasted for us, and has lovely coffee and chocolate aromas.
Toffee Malt: This is a unique malt, roasted at very low temperatures and then caramelized. It adds honey and toffee flavors.
Laureate Distillers Malt: This is a very sweet and floral malt.
We have then aged the Winter Malt in only the finest first fill Bourbon barrels.
48% abv.
Limited Release – 900 bottles for the US
On the nose there is sweet honied smoke, chocolate caramel slice, vanilla bean, and toffee. In the mouth notes of bitter dark chocolate and cocoa beans mingle beautifully with creamy fudge for a long, sweet, and smoky finish.
Pōkeno Triple Distilled
Triple Distillation helps to concentrate not only the alcohol in the whisky, but also helps create lighter, more fruity flavors. Having only two stills, we performed the final two distillations in our 3,600-liter spirit still, separating the hearts from the heads and tails each time.
A characteristic of Pokeno Single Malt is our incredibly sweet and smooth character, created by our extremely slow distillation, which allows the maximum amount of reflux in our stills. We then take a very small heart of approximately only 20% of the distillation run. By adding an additional distillation, this has pushed the profile to the next level. Pokeno Triple Distilled Single Malt has been matured in only the finest first fill Bourbon barrels, giving us an incredibly smooth, sweet, and honeyed Single Malt.
Bottled at 49% abv.
Limited Release – 900 bottles for the US
On the nose there is rich honey and vanilla with hints of citrus and toffee. In the mouth rich vanilla bean and butterscotch mingle with notes of sweet citrus and a hint of pepper clove. There is a long rich finish.
2024 World Whiskies Awards – Category Winner Gold
Pōkeno US Exclusive Single Cask Double Bourbon #21-415
After a full maturation in a first fill Bourbon barrel, we decided to re-rack this Single Malt into a fresh first fill Bourbon barrel for 6 months. This unique technique has added incredible richness and depth to the whisky. There is an invasion of vanilla beans, grapefruit, and sweet Oak with notes of dark chocolate, honeysuckle, and coconut lingering on the incredibly long finish.
Bottled at 56% abv.
288 Bottles