Taiwanese distillery also named Best Asian Distillery of the Year as Kavalan dominates the TWSC 2026 rankings.
Taiwan’s acclaimed Kavalan Distillery has added another milestone to its growing list of international achievements after its Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was awarded Best of the Best Single Malt at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) 2026, the competition’s highest accolade.
The latest victory marks Kavalan’s seventh world championship title at the TWSC, including an impressive run of four consecutive Best of the Best awards, further reinforcing the distillery’s reputation as one of Asia’s leading whisky producers.
“We are honoured to receive the TWSC Best of the Best award again. We are especially delighted that our Solist Oloroso Sherry Cask, one of Kavalan’s most iconic expressions in Asia, has earned this recognition,” said YT Lee, Chairman of King Car Group. “We thank TWSC, our supporters in Japan, and our dedicated team for helping bring Taiwanese whisky to the world.”
Beyond its flagship whisky’s success, Kavalan Distillery was also recognised as the Best Asian Distillery of the Year, highlighting its continued commitment to craftsmanship and quality.
Another milestone came with the Kavalan Concertmaster Vinho Barrique Finish Single Malt Whisky, which was inducted into the TWSC Hall of Fame after securing Gold recognition for three consecutive years.
Kavalan’s dominance was also reflected in the competition’s prestigious Top 10 ranking, where the Taiwanese distillery claimed six of the ten positions, including both first and second place. The remaining four positions were shared between Scotch and Japanese whiskies, underscoring Kavalan’s remarkable standing on the global stage. According to the judging panel, the distillery’s uncompromising production philosophy and dedication to quality played a key role in its outstanding performance.
The latest accolades build on what has already been a record-breaking year for the distillery. Earlier in May, when the TWSC 2026 judging results were announced, Kavalan achieved its strongest performance in the competition’s history, earning seven Superior Gold medals and 15 Gold medals across an extensive portfolio of expressions. The award-winning lineup included whiskies matured in sherry, Madeira and wine casks, as well as peated and cask-finished releases.
TWSC 2026 Best of the Best Single Malt
The award-winning Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky is matured exclusively in carefully selected Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks before being bottled at natural single cask strength without colouring or chill filtration.
The whisky delivers a rich, full-bodied profile featuring layers of dried fruits, roasted nuts, marzipan and vanilla, complemented by warming spices and a lingering finish of fine coffee.
TWSC judges praised the expression as “a perfect example of sherry cask aging,” highlighting its complex aromas of dried fruits, cinnamon, clove, chocolate and mature sherry, along with its balanced sweetness, remarkable depth and exceptionally long finish. One judge summed up the whisky succinctly, describing it as having a “wonderful aroma” and calling it an “excellent single malt.”
With another major international title under its belt, Kavalan continues to strengthen Taiwan’s position on the global whisky map while demonstrating the growing influence of Asian distilleries in the premium single malt category.