Kavalan 10th Anniversary Sky Gold Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky has been named “Best of the Best” single malt at the 2021 Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC). The Taiwanese brand grabbed four of the contest’s top 5 single malts slots, ranking 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place out of all single malts whiskies entered from around the world this year.
The Best of the Best single malt of the competition is determined by a two-stage process: the top 14 single malts in the first round are independently blind tasted again in a second round by a special team of 15 judges to find the Best of the Best among those 14 single malts.
For the first time in the history of the competition, Taiwan was made its own whisky region. Kavalan grabbed its region’s top two category prizes of Taiwanese NAS Single Malt and Taiwanese Single Malt Single Cask.
Kavalan Awards in 3rd Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
Best of the Best Single Malt – First Place
- Kavalan 10th Anniversary Sky Gold Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
Category Winner Taiwanese Whisky Single Malt No Age Statement
- Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
Category Winner Taiwanese Whisky Single Malt Single Cask
- Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Superior Gold
- 1st Place – Kavalan 10th Anniversary Sky Gold Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
- 3rd Place – Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- 4th Place – Kavalan 10th Anniversary Earth Silver Wine Cask Matured Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
- 5th Place – King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky
Gold
- Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
- Solist Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Solist PX Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- Distillery Reserve Rum Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
“We are humbled to be named TWSC’s Best of the Best,” said King Car CEO Mr Lee. “We will work hard to live up to this title, improving our quality, smoothness, and complexity for both our fans and critics.”
According to the TWSC, the competition is built upon the Japan Whisky Research Centre’s body of knowledge and was created as the first major domestic venue for the judging of Japanese whisky. The panel of judges, numbering 202 this year, comprises mainly bartenders from prefectures right across Japan and experts in the Japanese spirits manufacturing and wholesale business.
For more information on Kavalan, head over to the official website.
Earlier this year, Kavalan 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.”
We caught up 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.