Scapegrace establishes Australian distribution team

New Zealand’s largest independent spirits company, Scapegrace Distilling Co., is taking over its Australian distribution from 1 August – employing a direct to market approach that aims to accelerate its growth in the country.

Hailing from New Zealand’s Central Otago region, the company started out in 2014 under the name Rogue Society, before rebranding in 2018 as Scapegrace. The team has built up an award winning portfolio spanning single malt whisky, gin, vodka, and RTDs, and recently moved into a new $27 million distillery on the shores of Lake Dunstan.

With a presence in more than 40 markets around the world, Scapegrace is now refocusing close to home, establishing a dedicated Australian sales team to enhance its existing relationships and grow new business across all states.

Scapegrace co-founder, Daniel McLaughlin, said with the new distillery allowing for an increase in production, the time is right for the brand to grow its presence in Australia.

“Australia is a key market for Scapegrace. There are natural synergies between New Zealand and Australia when it comes to taste, culture, and drinking occasions, and we know there’s the opportunity for us to strengthen our offering there,” said McLaughlin.

“We’ll be putting a greater focus on Australia with increased investment in retail, on-premise, and brand building. Bringing distribution in-house will also give us more control and the ability to scale quickly.”