Creating a legacy of craftsmanship and passion, James Polhill is on a mission to bring new sensory discoveries to palates here and abroad. A mission he is well on his way to achieving, with his new whisky-infused Mānuka Honey.

From the snow-peaked regions of the deep south, James Polhill has sourced eight-year oak-barrelled whisky and masterfully blended it with wild, hand-harvested Mānuka Honey sourced from the sun-kissed forests of the north, combining the unique attributes of Aotearoa to create an unrivalled flavour.

‘The Southerly combines wild hand-harvested 300+ MGO Mānuka Honey, with the refined notes of an eight-year-old Single Malt Whisky,’ explains James, ‘resulting in a golden elixir that distils the raw beauty of the wilderness into a sumptuous jar.’

It is the culmination of three years of innovation originating on the family farm north of Auckland with the ambition to create a luxury product born from the nutrient-rich land.

‘We wanted to craft a truly extraordinary product from New Zealand,’ he continues. ‘Over the best part of three years, it took flight. And during what was a challenging and sometimes daunting process, something special happened. My eight-year-old son Lucan, now 11, watched the business come to life around the kitchen table and naturally became part of the journey too. Which reaffirmed what the business had always been about – an inspiration for my two boys, showing them that while anyone can have an idea, it’s the people who turn ideas into reality that make an impact in life.’

And James is certainly making an impact on our palates! Every jar has been carefully considered and meticulously crafted to create a luxury product that stands out, while breaking all conventions.

‘Like the famous southerly wind that reshapes our land and spreads rich nutrients across the country, we too sculpt nature,’ says James. ‘Merging scarce ingredients from the north and south of the country to create the rarest luxury products in New Zealand.

‘We are incredibly proud of what we have created and been blown away by the interest both locally and abroad. It has been fascinating to see how some of the best culinary minds have embraced the product and are already incorporating it into their culinary creations at lodges and restaurants.’

Elevate Your Taste Buds

Slowly drizzle the deliciously rich liquid over dollops of ice cream, roasted almonds, freshly sliced summer fruits or carved ham off the bone.

Or why not try stirring a teaspoon of succulence into herbal tea, or coax sweetness and sensation by dipping crunchy root vegetables into its deliciousness.