hokonui

is a moonshine whisky distilled secretively in the Hokonui Mountains of New Zealand’s Southland region. It is made from malted barley, sugar, liquid malt, yeast, and water, distilled in a copper pot still, and mixed with honey for a hint of color. The tradition began in the late 1800s when experienced distiller and widow Mary McRae and her children moved to New Zealand from Scotland and soon began making moonshine. As the drink gained popularity, more and more stills popped up across the region to fill the void created by lackluster, often diluted imports and growing temperance and prohibition movements. Those movements were able to enact laws, and indeed parts of the region were legally dry for most of the first half of the twentieth century, but thanks to hokonui’s enthusiastic fan base those laws never managed to stop the illicit distilling. Today, hokonui is available to purchase legally from commercial distilleries. See moonshine.

Wolfe, Kerry. “Hokonui Moonshine Museum.” Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hokonui-moonshine-museum (accessed February 16, 2021).

By: Anna Archibald