Pōkeno takes out World's Best at the Oscars of Whisky
New Zealand distillery Pōkeno has secured its reputation as a craft whisky pioneer after an incredible gold medal haul at 2024’s San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
The distillery’s accolades include Gold and two Double Golds, as well as ‘World’s Best Other Single Malt.’
Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the oldest and largest competition of its kind. It’s also considered to be the most respected and influential. Dubbed ‘The Oscars of booze,’ the competition brings together a panel of 70 experts across the globe to taste and rank hundreds of entries.
To receive Double Golds, a spirit must unanimously receive a gold medal from all judges on the panel during a blind tasting. Pōkeno was the only New Zealand whisky distillery to win Double Gold at 2024’s San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
The distillery was founded by Matt and Céline Johns in 2017 and uses pure spring water from the surrounding volcanic hills, and barley sourced from three family-owned farms on the South Island.
Together, Pōkeno and The Whisky Club have released two exclusives: Pōkeno The Whisky Club Edition, the biggest shipment of whisky to leave New Zealand, and Pōkeno Amontillado Single Cask, the distillery’s first-ever Australian exclusive single cask