Kavalan has won two awards at the Icons of Whisky Rest of World 2021, including Best Visitor Attraction. Kaitlyn Tsai, the Taiwanese distillery’s brand ambassador, won “World Whisky Brand Ambassador.”
This is the third time Kavalan Distillery has been named Icon’s 2021 Visitor Attraction. This year’s prize recognizes the innovation of a distillery dedicated to telling the story of Kavalan whisky. In 2020, the distillery completed its “Kavalan Garden Hall” by incorporating an island cocktail bar, redesigned DIY Whisky Lab and tasting room that offers the complete Kavalan range and distillery-exclusive cask-to-glass whiskies. Garden Hall aims to highlight the natural environment of the distillery and provide visitors with an immersive space to experience the Kavalan brand.
Icons of Whisky’s 2021 World Whisky Brand Ambassador award celebrates Kaitlyn Tsai’s unique skills in promoting not just Kavalan, but also the land it’s from. In Kaitlyn’s masterclasses and interviews she eloquently explains how the natural beauty of Yilan County shapes a whisky known for its complexity, depth and smoothness. Time and again, Kaitlyn channels her passion for Taiwan’s whisky into painting an unforgettable picture of a remarkable whisky. Earlier this month, we sat down with Kaitlyn to discuss Yilan County, the distillery, Dr Jim Swan and how Kavalan grew into one of the top brands in the whisky world.
As always, the Icons of Whisky ROW 2021 awards featured some of the most intriguing whisky brands in the world. Check out the complete list of winner from this year’s competition below:
Icons of Whiskies Rest of World 2021 Winners and Highly Commended
Distiller
Winner
Mackmyra
Highly Commended
Distell
Craft Producer
Winner
Milk & Honey Distillery
Highly Commended
Basque Moonshiners
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Mackmyra
Highly Commended
English Whisky Company
Brand Innovator
Winner
Stauning Whisky
Highly Commended
Copper Republic Distilling
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Kavalan Distillery
Highly Commended
Cotswolds Distillery
Distillery Manager
Winner
Roger Melander, High Coast Whisky
Highly Commended
David Dube, Bains Whisky
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Dhavall Gandhi, The Lakes Distillery
Highly Commended
David Fitt, English Whisky Company
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Nicola Riske, The Macallan
Highly Commended
Dave Worthington, That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador
Winner
Naomi Laurie, Bresser & Timmer (Teeling Whiskey)
World Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Kaitlyn Tsai, Kavalan Distillery
Highly Commended
Shilton Almeida, Paul John
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Simon Dicks, James Sedgwick Distillery
Highly Commended
Isabelle ‘s Heeren, The Owl Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
WhiskyBrother
Highly Commended
Whisky Shop Ukraine
Multiple Outlets Retailer
Winner
The Whisky Exchange
Online Retailer
Winner
The Whisky Exchange
Highly Commended
WhiskyBrother
Supermarket
Winner
Aldi
Highly Commended
Booths
Own Brand Supermarket
Winner
Lidl
Highly Commended
Aldi
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Dawn Davies, The Whisky Exchange
Highly Commended
Guy Hodcroft, Master of Malt
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
Lobster Bar and Grill, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Highly Commended
Bar The Tailor, Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam
Whisky Bar Group
Winner
Milroy’s of Soho
PR Agency
Winner
Story PR
Design Agency
Winner
Nude Brand Creation
Highly Commended
Stranger and Stranger
Communicator
Winner
Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange
Highly Commended
Emma Briones, Todo Whisky
Kavalan, meanwhile, also scored a clutch of top medals in the 2021 World Whiskies Awards (WWA). “Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt” went to Kavalan’s Solist Oloroso Sherry, and “Best Taiwan Single Malt” went to Kavalan Podium, making it the second time Podium has won this award after its 2016 win.
Judges on the Solist Oloroso Sherry:
“A real sherry bomb on the nose with intense Pedro Ximénez influence. Notes of apricot, sultanas and cherry compote, with some wood influence. On the palate it is floral, fruity and sherried, with raisins, peaches, plums, dark chocolate and elegant mixed spices.”
And on the Podium:
“A very malty nose with soft spices, vanilla, caramel, dried fruits and a bit of tobacco. The maltiness continues onto the palate, where it meets classic oak notes, honey, vanilla, roasted hazelnuts and a touch of smoke. The finish is prickly and slightly peppery and smoky. Very clean, well balanced and complex.”
