Local whiskies dominate prestigious UK spirits challenge

2017/05/11

Taiwan-distilled single malt whiskies recently swept the Tasting Awards at the annual U.K.-based International Spirits Challenge, one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.
 
 Under the category of World Whisky, liquors produced by Kavalan Distillery in northeastern Taiwan’s Yilan County claimed four golds and 12 silvers, while whiskies distilled by state-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp. bagged one gold and four silvers.
 
 The ISC Tasting Awards—now in its 22nd year—receives more than 1,300 entries from nearly 70 countries across the world each year. The competition comprises four types of medals, namely Trophy, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
 
 Claiming four of the six golds at this year’s competition, Kavalan’s winning submissions are the Reserve Rum Cask, ex-Bourbon Oak, Podium and Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength. TTL was awarded a gold medal for its OMAR Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength Plum Liqueur Barrel.
 
 In a statement, Kavalan CEO Lee Yu-ting pointed out that the rum cask-aged whisky—inspired by Caribbean soul and Taiwan spirit—is a limited edition created to celebrate the distillery’s 10th anniversary in 2016, stating “it is pleasing that Rum Reserve has now won its first award from one of the most authoritative and influential spirits competitions in the world.”
 
ISC entrees are blind tasted by judging panels made up of leading alcohol industry experts and critics from around the globe. Scores are given according to aroma, appearance, taste and finish.
 
 Over the past decade, local distilleries have made a name for themselves in top-level spirits competitions around the world. Established by King Car Group in 2006 as Taiwan’s first whisky distilling operation, Kavalan Distillery’s creations have won 220 golds in major international contests, and are available for purchase in more than 60 countries.
 
 TTL launched its first whisky bottling in 2013, with its OMAR series soon capturing global attention by performing well in several prestigious spirits contests including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, U.K.-based International Wine and Spirit Competition and World Whiskies Awards.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=115145)