(Kaitlyn Tsai walks author through barrels of fun. Photo by Bong Lacson)
YILAN COUNTY, Taiwan – Majestic in its location near the foot of mountain ranges, the Kavalan Distillery which has taken the world by storm with its products, is now a major tourist attraction here.
The distillery produced the “Solist Vinho Barrique” which was hailed as the best single malt whiskey on earth by the World Whiskies Awards in Time Magazine.
Kavalan, a Taiwanese whiskey distillery, is owned by King Car Group and the single malt whisky produced here is named after the indigenous people who originally inhabited the northeastern corner of the island: the Kavalan.
Kaitlyn Tsai, Kavalan brand ambassador, said pure mineral water coming from the nearby snow-capped mountains is one of the secret ingredients of their whiskey. She also said the warm sub-tropical climate means that the whisky effectively matures more quickly.
During a visit here on July 13, Philippines AirAsia president and CEO Capt. Dexter Comendador as well as members of the Pampanga Press Club were able to partake of the world champion single malt whiskey to their delight.
Preceding the toast, Tsai led the AirAsia group to a tour of the distillery explaining the basic ingredients of barley and water for single malt whiskey and showing Oak casks as well giant distillation containers and the whole process in its production.
Kavalan Single Malt Whisky was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2011 International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Tsai said the distillery was named after the indigenous Kavalan people who originally inhabited the Kabalan plain of modern-day Yilan County. The distillery was completed in December 2005, produced its first spirit in March 2006 and released its first bottling in December 2008, she added.
In January 2010, one of the distillery’s products caused a stir by beating three Scotch whiskies and one English whisky in a blind tasting organized in Leith, Scotland, to celebrate Burns Night.
The distillery was named by Whisky Magazine as the World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year” for 2011, and its products have won several other awards.
In 2012, Kavalan’s Solist Fino Sherry Cask malt whisky was named “new whisky of the year” by Jim Murray in his guide, Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible.
In 2015, Kavalan’s Vinho Barrique expression was named the world’s best single malt whisky by World Whiskies Awards.
In 2016, Kavalan’s Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength was named the World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky by World Whiskies Award.
Kavalan single malt whisky is currently sold in 19 variants with the “Premium Series Kavalan Premium Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (Amontillado & Manzanilla Sherry Cask) Kavalan Premium Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (PX Sherry Cask).”
The term “single malt whisky” can be confusing since in its most basic form, it refers to a whisky that is produced by a single distillery using a single malted grain, which is typically barley. Single malt whisky is most famous among Scotch whisky, though it can be produced anywhere in the world.
