Local Christchurch distillery The Spirits Workshop believe that, with access to some of the world’s best barley grown right here in Canterbury and some of the world’s best water straight out of the tap, Christchurch should be making the world’s best single malt whisky.

Cityscape asked the creators to show off their velvety Divergence Whisky in an original cocktail you can make at home.

This recipe is based on the classic Blood and Sand, a scotch-based cocktail that first appeared in 1930. This version is made with local liquors, and you can taste it at the Curiosity Gin bar in Riverside Market. 

Ingredients

• 20ml Divergence Virgin French Oak Single Malt Whisky
• 20ml Curiosity Pinot Barrel Sloe Gin
• 20ml Martini Rosso Vermouth
• 20ml orange juice
• Orange peel, for garnish

Method

Add the whisky, sloe gin, sweet vermouth and orange juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

thespiritsworkshop.co.nz