Kavalan whisky from Taiwan named best in the world

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique has previously won a number of prizes including a gold awards from the Beverage Tasting Institute

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A whisky from Taiwan has beaten off competition from around the globe to be named the best single malt at the 2015 World Whiskies Awards.

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique won the award at the ceremony which also saw prizes go to whiskies from Scotland, Japan, Ireland, France, Sweden, South Africa, Australia and the US.

It is produced by the King Car distillery, founded in 2005, in the Yilan County area of the island where it is matured in American oak barrels that previously held white and red wines.

The taste is described by the WWA website as: “Surprisingly smooth on the palate. It’s like Bourbon-infused milk chocolate” and “Immediately and subtly liquor rich.”

The whisky, which has an ABV of 58.6 per cent, is certainly no stranger to awards.

It was named New Whisky of the year in The Whisky Bible in 2012, won a gold award at the Beverage Tasting Institute in the same year and was included in Ian Buxton’s 2010 book ‘101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die.’

Jim Murray, who wrote The Whisky Bible said of Kavalan: “Good whisky is, without question, a work of art; great whisky is a tone poem. And here, I beg to insist, is proof.”

Other notable winners at the ceremony included Scottish whisky 'Darkness!' which won the award for best grain whisky and Nikka Teketsura Pure Malt, named the world’s best blended malt.

First hosted in 2007, the World Whisky Awards are held by Whisky Magazine and attracted more than 300 entrants this year vying for the title of ‘World’s Best.’

A 700ml bottle of Kavalan can be purchased at Tesco, Waitrose or Ocado for £40 according to price comparison website MySupermarket.