Kavalan dominates bevtest world whisky judging with historic wins

In 2025, at the BevTest World Whisky Judging, Kavalan, a Taiwanese distillery, achieved remarkable success, dominating the competition with a significant medal haul. This event highlights the global evolution of whisky, where non-traditional whisky-producing nations, such as Indonesia and France, are gaining recognition in a traditionally Scottish-dominated market. Kavalan swept the awards, winning all three Platinum medals and taking home 24 out of the 26 gold medals. Many of these awards were bestowed upon Kavalan's renowned Solist Series, showcasing the distillery's mastery in producing unique flavors through various barrel types and cask strength. Kavalan's Solist Series features single cask, cask-strength, non-chill-filtered whiskies, each aged in specific barrels to emphasize unique flavor profiles. Notably, Kavalan's products are bottled at natural cask strength ranging from 55-60% ABV. One standout from this series is the Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry, which boasts a dry and nutty palate accentuated by flavors of marzipan and green grape. The Solist Amontillado Sherry showcases toasted almond and hazelnut aromas with a rich, dry flavor profile of dried fruits and spices. Among the distinctions conferred at the event, Kavalan's 15-Year-Old Single Malt received a gold medal and a high score of 95/100. This whisky is characterized by its robust and concentrated flavor, with notes of honey, tobacco, caramel, and a long finish featuring tropical fruit. The 2025 competition also acknowledged several other Kavalan expressions, including the King Car Conductor and various expressions of the Solist range, many of which received gold medals for their quality and distinctive profiles. This event emphasizes the changing landscape of global whisky production, recognizing talents from varied nations and highlighting that memorable whisky can come from anywhere. Kavalan's success not only boosts Taiwan's profile in the spirits industry but also signals a movement towards diversity in whisky production, as the finest spirits are increasingly being crafted in locations beyond the conventional giants.