20/05/26
We're celebrating a big result at the 2026 World Drinks Awards, with ThunderDonk Salted Caramel taking out Gold and Country Winner honours, and Scapegrace ANTHEM claiming Gold in its category. ThunderDonk Spiced Maple also earned Silver, rounding out a strong showing across the board.
The World Drinks Awards are judged by an international panel of industry experts and are widely regarded as one of the world's most respected drinks competitions.
Scapegrace Co-Founder Daniel McLaughlin says the result is a proud moment for the whole team.
"To see ThunderDonk and ANTHEM both claim Gold at the World Drinks Awards in the same year is an incredible result," said McLaughlin.
"Salted Caramel taking out the Category Winner title shows the real strength across the ThunderDonk range. We're seeing fantastic momentum and the international recognition is a real reflection of how well the product has landed with consumers."
ThunderDonk is a flavoured whisky built on a real single malt base, crafted at Scapegrace's distillery on the banks of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago. Since launching last year it has picked up a string of international accolades and secured a major listing through Dan Murphy's in Australia.
McLaughlin says the ANTHEM result is equally special for the team.
"ANTHEM is distilled using locally grown barley, including our distinctive Manuka-smoked malt, cut with pristine glacial water and matured in the extreme Central Otago climate. It tells a genuinely New Zealand story and it's great to see it recognised internationally."
The wins continue a strong run of international recognition for Scapegrace, following gold at the World Whisky Awards 2025 for Vanguard and gold at the World Whisky Masters 2024 for ANTHEM.
Scapegrace ANTHEM is available nationwide at RRP $89.99. ThunderDonk is available at all major retail banners at RRP $59.99.
