An Oamaru-based whisky maker is bracing for a battle with one of the heavyweights of whisky.
William Grant & Sons, the Scottish company that produces Grant's Blended Whisky and Glenfiddich, are objecting to the use of the label Dunedin Doublewood.
It says it is too similar to its own brand, Balvenie DoubleWood.
New Zealand Whisky Company chief executive Greg Ramsay said he was shocked to receive legal threats.
He said their lawyer's suggestion customers could be confused was quite laughable because when the bottles were next to one another, one had a map of New Zealand on it.
New Zealand Whisky Company cellar door manager Debs Preston said any suggestion consumers could be confused was laughable.
"It seems to be almost they're thinking we're trying to trade off their name but we're not because for us, Doublewood is a process," she said.
"A lot of people use this process. Doublewood just refers to the fact that two different barrel types have been used."
Ms Preston said other brands worldwide also used DoubleWood in their labelling.
