A Tropical Twist on Tradition: Kavalan Whisky
Kavalan’s story starts with a father and son's dream to create whisky in Taiwan. Before 2002, Taiwan’s alcohol production was controlled by the government monopoly. But when Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization that year, it opened the door for private distilleries.
Taking advantage of this change, Mr. Lee of the King Car Group put together a team of engineers, architects, and project managers to learn about whisky production around the world. They visited distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. After three years of studying, the team returned to Taiwan, and in 2005, Kavalan Distillery was born.
Located in Yanshan, Yilan County, just an hour from Taipei, Kavalan is named after the local Kavalan people. Founded by Tsen-Tsai Lee and his son Yu-Ting Lee, the distillery’s first whisky flowed from its stills in March 2006.
Kavalan became Taiwan’s first whisky distillery, equipped to handle every step of the production process, from milling and mashing to fermentation, distillation, and maturation.
Location and Climate Impact
Kavalan’s location in Yilan County is crucial to its whisky. The distillery uses water from the Central Mountain and Snow Mountain, which is rich in minerals. Yilan’s hot and humid climate speeds up the aging process, causing more evaporation of the whisky each year—around 10%-15%, compared to the 2-3% in Scotland. This means Kavalan whisky can mature in as little as two years.
Innovative Production Techniques
Kavalan combines traditional whisky-making with modern techniques to suit Taiwan’s climate. The distillery uses Scottish-style copper pot stills from Forsyths and Holstein stills. Fermentation happens in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to handle the heat, and cooling systems help manage the high temperatures during distillation.
The late whisky consultant Dr. Jim Swan greatly influenced Kavalan. He suggested using American oak instead of European oak to avoid bitterness and introduced a method called shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR). This technique, using ex-wine casks, recreates the aging environment of refill casks, improving the whisky’s flavor.
Kavalan’s casks are stored in large warehouses, secured to withstand earthquakes, which are common in the region. The top floors of these warehouses can reach up to 42°C, speeding up the aging process and adding to the whisky’s unique taste.
Whisky Characteristics and Cask Selection
Kavalan whisky is known for its fruity, oily, and complex flavors. The distillery uses a range of casks—ex-bourbon, sherry, brandy, port, and wine—each adding different flavors. The heat and humidity help develop these flavors quickly, giving Kavalan whiskies their rich and complex profiles.
Popular expressions like Kavalan Vinho Barrique and Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength have won international awards, including “World’s Best Single Malt” and “World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt.”
Rapid Growth and Production
Kavalan has quickly become one of the world’s largest single malt distilleries. Its production capacity has grown from 1.5 million liters to nine million liters a year, thanks to an expansion in 2016. The distillery uses five mash tuns and 40 stainless steel washbacks. Fermentation times vary from 60 to 72 hours depending on the season.
Kavalan's distillation process is precise. The distillery has 20 stills (10 for washing and 10 for spirit), and it makes a very narrow cut of the spirit to ensure high quality. This careful process is key to the unique taste of Kavalan whisky.
Global Recognition
Despite being relatively new, Kavalan has made a big impact in the whisky world. The distillery has won many awards, including “Distiller of the Year” from the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and “Best World Distillery of the Year” from the Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition.
Kavalan’s success shows that excellent whisky can come from unexpected places like Taiwan. Its innovative approach and dedication to quality have set new standards in the whisky industry.
Kavalan’s Role in the Whisky World
Kavalan Whisky represents a mix of vision, creativity, and respect for tradition. Its special location, advanced production methods, and careful attention to detail have created whiskies that are both impressive and flavorful.
For whisky lovers, Kavalan offers a fresh perspective on how climate, location, and modern techniques can come together to produce outstanding whisky in a surprising place.