Beverage News
Kavalan Wins Two IWSC Gold Outstanding
Kavalan has been named the 2020 International Sprits Challenge (ISC) ‘World Whisky Producer of the Year,’ a prize that rewards the highest scoring whisky distillery in the world category.
Now in its 25th year and with 1700 entries across 70 countries, the 2020 ISC competition awarded one Double Gold to Kavalan’s *Solist Vinho Barrique and a further 9 Golds earlier in the year. The gold medal winners are as follows:
- Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan *Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky
- Kavalan *Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
- King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky
CEO Mr YT Lee said: “We are honoured to receive the recognition for our distillery and help place Taiwan on the world whisky stage again.”
Previously in 2015, Vinho was singled out by the World Whiskies Awards and named the World’s Best Single Malt Whisky. In 2019, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition gave it a Platinum medal, which signifies 3 consecutive Double Golds.
The whisky behind the groundbreaking Shave, Toast and Rechar (STR), a cask treatment developed by the late Dr Jim Swan at Kavalan, the Solist Vinho Barrique is aged in wine barrels specially treated to bring out all the complex, multi-dimensional flavours of ripe melon, mango, kiwi and citrus fruits on a background of mixed spice and dates.
In addition, in the first stage of the 2020 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London, the Kavalan *Solist Amontillado and the Kavalan *Solist Manzanilla both won Gold Outstanding in the first round, scoring 98 points each.
Judges described the Amontillado as follows:
“Opulent and expressive with layered aromas and flavours of dark chocolate, Christmas cake and sweet spice. Dense and rich with chewy mouthfeel and a wonderful, evolving finish of malt, spicy oak, a touch of smoke and a twist of orange peel. Sensational!”
Judges described the Manzanilla as follows:
“Intense and heady aromas of rich dried fruit, spice and dark chocolate. Big, sweet, and indulgent on palate, liquid tiramisu with tobacco, prunes and PX sherry. A lifted finish gives freshness and balance; an outstanding whisky.”
Source: Kavalan
