Description

Pōkeno Alchemy New Zealand Whisky (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 46%           Age: No Age Statement            Country: New Zealand

The Whisky

Pōkeno Alchemy is a spellbinding addition to the New Zealand single malt landscape, marking a bold expansion of the distillery’s core range. True to its name, Alchemy is a “magical process of creation,” meticulously blending some of the distillery’s most expressive stocks. Bottled at 46% ABV, this expression is defined by a massive six cask maturation process. The spirit has been fully matured on-site in Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts, Tawny Port barriques, Ruby Port barriques, and three types of American Oak (including Virgin Oak with different toast levels).

This is Pōkeno’s most full bodied release to date. By combining the syrupy dark fruit of the PX and Port casks with the spicy, structural tannins of Virgin Oak, Master Distiller Matt Johns has created a “multi-sensory” whisky that celebrates the accelerated maturation provided by the subtropical North Island climate. It is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured, allowing the rich, mahogany influence of the six different oaks to shine through without compromise.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: An indulgent opening where ripe cherries and dark chocolate mingle with rich baking spices and freshly baked gingerbread. As it sits, layers of sweet burnt toffee and a warm note of mulled wine emerge.

Palate: The mouthfeel is exceptionally rich and syrupy. Initial notes of ripe plums and blackcurrant jam lead the charge. The mid-palate transitions into rich honey, creamy caramel, and vanilla beans, balanced by the structured spice of toasted oak.

Finish: Extraordinarily long and complex. The dark fruit sweetness lingers alongside toasted cocoa nibs and a final, warming kiss of spiced oak and citrus zest.

The Distillery

Pōkeno Distillery, located south of Auckland in a volcanic hillside landscape, is the largest single malt distillery in New Zealand. Founded by Matt and Celine Johns, the distillery is built directly over a volcanic water aquifer rich in minerals. A unique factual detail: Pōkeno is home to New Zealand’s only working cooperage, where their Master Cooper hand-builds and chars the very barrels used for Alchemy. The distillery’s signature “sweet and smooth” character is the result of incredibly slow distillation to ensure maximum copper contact and spirit purity.

Overall Review

The Pokeno Alchemy Single Malt is widely hailed as a landmark for New Zealand whisky, praised for its incredible balance of six diverse cask influences. Critics have lauded it as the distillery’s most “complete” expression, successfully proving that NZ malt can rival the complexity of world-class Highland scotches.