The International Whisky Competition (IWC) has crowned Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky as the Whisky of the Year at its 2025 edition, held in Louisville, Kentucky. This victory not only highlights the exceptional quality of Kavalan's offering but also signifies a pivotal moment in the whisky industry, as it is the first time a non-Scottish distillery has claimed the competition's highest honor.
Scoring an impressive 97.04 points, the Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry was praised for its balance and complexity by the judging panel. The whisky, produced in Yilan County, Taiwan, features a rich palette of flavors including mango, apricot, grilled pineapple, almonds, dried figs, and oak spice on the nose, with a palate that offers plum, brandied cherries, dark chocolate, and the dry finesse of fino sherry, culminating in a finish that lingers with coffee, sandalwood, and dried citrus.
Mr. Yu-Ting Lee, Chairman of King Car Kavalan, expressed pride in the achievement, stating that it reaffirms Taiwan's position in the global whisky landscape. The award underscores the distillery's innovation and dedication to quality, setting a new benchmark for whisky craftsmanship worldwide.
In addition to the Whisky of the Year title, Kavalan Distillery was also named Distillery of the Year, with an average score of 92.78 points. Other notable winners included Dewar's Double Double 21 Years Old as Best Blended Scotch Whisky, Aultmore® Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old as Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch #4) as Best American Whiskey, and DeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Adambaraa as Best Indian Whisky.
The IWC is renowned for its rigorous and impartial judging process, with each whisky evaluated across 15 criteria by a panel of experts. The competition's Olympic-style philosophy awards only three medals in each category, making it one of the most selective and respected whisky competitions globally. Full results of the 2025 competition are available at www.whiskycompetition.com/2025-results.
