Kavalan has claimed the World Whisky Producer of the Year Trophy from the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) for the second year running. The top prize makes it a triple trophy honors season so far for Taiwan’s premier distiller across the 2021 ISC, 2021 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), and 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Kavalan has been awarded the 2021:
- ISC World Whisky Producer of the Year Trophy
- ISC Spirit Tourism Awards Distillery Visitor Centre Trophy
- IWSC Worldwide Whiskey Trophy
Kavalan blitzed the first round of the 2021 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), winning the Worldwide Whiskey Trophy – for the fifth time – for its Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky. The Taiwanese distillery collected 7 of only 8 Gold Outstanding medals that IWSC judges awarded across the entire contest.
Podium, which is aged in a mix of virgin American oak casks with refill casks, was described by judges as follows:
“Lifted oak notes on the nose with roasted coffee beans, honeysuckle and rose aromas. The spicy, weighty palate opens with an array of forest fruits and is bright and full and ends with a dusting of sweet porridge and nutmeg. Expertly balanced.”
Kavalan Podium Wins 2021 IWSC Worldwide Whiskey Trophy
The ISC Spirits Tourism Awards recognises innovation and excellence among global distilleries. Kavalan collected the Distillery Visitor Centre Trophy.
Judges Feedback:
● Large, modern Visitors Centre. Feedback from visitors to this Distillery is good and the Centre is very organised. However it is very large with rows of tasting benches so more commercial than personal.
● This entry stood out for me, as beyond the typical museum and visitor centre entrance, Kavalan had a free tasting area, art installation, whisky ice cream van, a bar, a café and so much more. It explains the terroir of the region and story of Kavalan. The visitor numbers are incredible which is testament to the strong offering of the distillery. Fantastic Job.
● As a visitor centre it seems to go beyond just an afterthought to the tour but as a major attraction in its own right with its Garden Bar, Garden Hall, Tasting & DIY blending rooms and café.
CEO Mr Lee said he had congratulated his team and asked them to keep up the good work. “We want to keep delivering quality to our fans and critics around the world,” Mr Lee said.
Kavalan wins 2021 World Whisky Producer of the Year Trophy and Tourism Awards Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge
List of 2021 IWSC Awards
Trophy
- IWSC Worldwide Whiskey Trophy
In total, Kavalan scooped 15 of the 28 Gold or Gold Outstanding medals bestowed in the world whisky category.
Gold Outstanding
98 Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peaty Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Distillery Reserve Rum Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang – Puncheon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
98 Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang – Virgin Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Gold
96 Kavalan 10th Anniversary Earth Silver Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
96 Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang – French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2 Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
95 Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang – Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
List of 2021 ISC AWARDS
Trophy
- ISC World Whisky Producer of the Year Trophy
- ISC Spirit Tourism Awards Distillery Visitor Centre Trophy
Golds
- Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2 Single Malt Whisky
- King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky
- King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan 10th Anniversary Earth Silver Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan 10th Anniversary Sky Gold Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peaty Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Solist Madeira Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang – Virgin Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
For more information, head over to Kavalan’s official website.
We sat down with Brand Ambassador Kaitlyn Tsai to discuss Yilan County, the distillery, Dr Jim Swan and how Kavalan grew into one of the top brands in the whisky world.
