Taiwanese single malt whisky producer Kavalan Distillery (King Car Group) has claimed top honour at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC), with its Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt named ‘Whisky of the Year’.
The expression received a leading score of 96.97 points.
The win marks the second consecutive year that Kavalan has claimed the competition’s highest honour, following the success of its Solist Fino Sherry, scoring 97.04 points in 2025.
The distillery also secured eight places in the competition’s Top 15 Whiskies of 2026, while Head of Research and Development Zerose Yang was honoured as Master Distiller of the Year, highlighting the strength and consistency of the Kavalan team, the company said.
Part of Kavalan’s Peatist Series, the winning expression is made from lightly peated malt and matured in oloroso sherry casks, delivering a balance of delicate peat smoke and the distillery’s distinctive subtropical maturation style.
Council of Whiskey Masters Master of Scotch Octavio Bernal noted, “The nose opens with oily leather, an earthy tea blend and a hint of anise, followed by grilled mango, light ash and a touch of white pepper.
“On the palate, chocolate-covered raisins, chewy figs and a delicate smoky barbecue tang come forward. The finish lingers with dark leather, juicy cassis and lightly roasted cocoa nibs.”
King Car Group Chairman YT Lee said: “At Kavalan, the consistent pursuit of breakthrough and innovation have been at the heart of everything we do. Every award reflects the passion and dedication of our entire team.
“We are honoured that our commitment continues to be recognised by the world’s most respected whisky competitions, inspiring us to keep exploring new possibilities for Taiwanese single malt.”
International Whisky Competition Director Max A. Solano commented, “Kavalan has accomplished a rare feat by winning Whisky of the Year two years in a row at one of the industry’s most demanding blind tasting competitions.
“The Kavalan Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask distinguished itself with exceptional depth, balance and complexity.”
The IWC noted that every entry undergoes one of the industry’s most rigorous double-blind tasting processes, ensuring each whisky is assessed impartially.
The honour marks Kavalan’s 11th world’s best title in 11 years, adding to a record that includes eight Distiller/Distillery of the Year honours and more than 1,000 international gold medals. ✈
