Kavalan
Founded only in 2005, Kavalan from Taiwan is today one of the most awarded whiskies in the world – including the "Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year" trophy in 2016, 2017, and 2021. Few brands have risen to become a shooting star of the international whisky scene so quickly.
Kavalan stands for a sweet, tropical-fruit style that matures at an extraordinary pace thanks to Taiwan's subtropical climate. From the approachable Concertmaster with its port cask finish to the cask-strength Solist single-cask releases, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€81.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
CODE: BLACK25
Content: 0.7 Liter (€81.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€121.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.04 Liter (€249.75 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Code: PFINGSTEN26
Content: 0.7 Liter (€174.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
CODE: BLACK25
Content: 0.7 Liter (€91.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.04 Liter (€199.75 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€187.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€224.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€297.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€234.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€185.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€194.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€115.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€104.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€65.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
How did Kavalan become Asia's most awarded whisky, seemingly overnight?
Kavalan was founded in 2005 by Lee Tien-Tsai and belongs to Taiwan's King Car Group; the distillery is named after the historic term for the Yilan region. The first spirit ran off the stills as early as March 2006, and the first finished product reached the market in 2008. Cask expert Dr Jim Swan, who died in 2017, played a major role in the brand's success and helped develop its unusually fast maturation concept. Since then, Kavalan has amassed more than 950 gold medals at international spirits competitions and is now distributed in over 50 countries.
Why doesn't Kavalan carry an age statement?
Taiwan's subtropical climate matures whisky many times faster than in cool Scotland: while the annual cask evaporation (angels' share) in Scotland is around 2%, in Taiwan up to 15% is lost per year. As a result, Kavalan whiskies reach a maturity within just a few years that takes Scotch malts far longer to achieve – an age statement would carry little meaning here and is deliberately omitted.
Overview of the most popular bottlings
1. Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish
The recommended way into the brand.
Taste: Malt candy, wine gums, and creamy caramel, plus preserved red fruit.
Serving suggestion: Neat, for lovers of sweet, approachable whiskies.
2. Kavalan Sherry Oak
Matured entirely in sherry casks.
Taste: Dried fruit, spice, and dark fruit notes, more intense than the Concertmaster.
Serving suggestion: For fans of sherry-driven whiskies.
3. Kavalan Solist Single Sherry Cask
The premium single-cask line, bottled at cask strength.
Taste: Concentrated and bold, with intense fruit and spice notes.
Serving suggestion: For experienced tasters wanting to experience Kavalan at full intensity.
Facts and figures
Location: Yuanshan, Yilan County, Taiwan. Founded: 2005 by Lee Tien-Tsai (King Car Group). Production: 100% malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills after the Scottish model.