The World's Best Single Malt Whisky, According To BevTest

Forbes

23-07-2025

Yuanshan, Republic of China - October 2, 2023: Oak casks of maturing single malt whisky at the Kavalan Whisky Distillery. getty
In recent years, the global whisky scene has been reshaped by the rise of new producers from unexpected corners of the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in Asia, where countries like Taiwan, India, and Japan have rapidly emerged as serious competitors to traditional whisky powerhouses.
The 2025 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) World Whisky Judging offered a striking example of this trend. Asian whiskies, particularly from Taiwan's Kavalan distillery, dominated the competition, earning the majority of top medals. The awards also highlighted surprising gold medal winners from non-traditional whisky-producing nations, such as France and Indonesia, underscoring the evolving, increasingly diverse nature of global whisky excellence.
Kavalan swept all three of the Platinum medals and 24 of the 26 gold medals. Many of the winners were from Kavalan's Solist Series.
The Kavalan distillery was founded in 2005 in Yilan County, Northeast Taiwan, by the King Car Group, a prominent Taiwanese conglomerate. Although Taiwan has no history of local whisky production, the distillery quickly emerged as an innovator, known for pushing boundaries and developing its unique stamp on whisky.
Taiwan's hot, humid environment accelerates aging, creating richly matured whisky after just 4–8 years of barrel aging. On average, whisky in Taiwan matures at three times the speed it does in Scotland, and it loses a higher 'angel's share' to evaporation, typically 12%-15% annually.
Rapid maturation can be tricky to manage, especially ensuring the whisky is balanced. Kavalan's Barrel rooms are carefully climate-managed to prevent over-aging. The tropical climate also accelerates cask finishing, allowing for greater extraction from barrels and a more flavorful whisky.
Some of the whiskies in the Kavalan Solist range. Photo, courtesy Kavalan
The Solist Series is Kavalan's crown jewel. Introduced in the late 2000s, this series helped catapult Kavalan onto the global whisky stage, showcasing the remarkable effects of Taiwan's subtropical climate and the distillery's innovative barrel management.
The range is a collection of single cask, cask-strength, non-chill-filtered, non-colored single malt whiskies—each matured in a specific type of barrel to highlight a distinct flavor profile.
All the whiskies are bottled at natural cask strength, typically 55–60% ABV. Each expression is sourced from a single barrel and individually numbered. The whiskies are not chill filtered, preserving all fatty acids and esters. The result is a range of whiskies offering exceptional complexity and intensity, providing a case study in how cask influence shapes whisky.
Below is a brief description of some of the top-ranked Kavalan whiskies from the BevTest judging, as well as a summary of the aroma and taste profile of the Solist series. Kavalan Solist Brandy, 55.6% ABV, 750 ml. $229
This whisky is matured in ex-brandy casks, resulting in a rich, fruit-forward profile. It scored 98/100 points and earned a platinum medal.
The whisky features aromas of candied apricot, caramel custard, brandied yellow plum, and toasted oak. It's silky and flavorful on the palate, showcasing flavors of raisin, orange zest, crème anglaise, and baking spice. The finish is long, smooth, and sweet, with lingering notes of brandy sweetness and grapefruit peel. Kavalan, Solist Fino Sherry, 59.4% ABV, 750 ml. $599
The whisky is matured in Fino Sherry butts. This expression offers a dry, oxidative Sherry character enhanced by accelerated tropical maturation. It scored 97/100 points and was awarded a platinum medal.
It features aromas of almond, crusty bread, green apple, and honeycomb. It's dry and nutty on the palate, showcasing flavors of marzipan, green grape, and a touch of cooked cereal/malt sweetness. The finish is long and crisp, with lingering notes of almond and a saline aftertaste.
Yilan, Taiwan - November 29, 2018: Kavalan Distillery Building. Kavalan Distillery is a Taiwanese whisky distillery. It is owned by the King Car Group and is located at Yuanshan Township. getty Kavalan, Solist Amontillado Sherry, 54.8% ABV, 750 ml.
This whisky is matured in Amontillado sherry casks, striking a balance between the freshness of Fino and the richness of Oloroso. It scored 97/100 points and a platinum medal.
The whisky features classic Amontillado aromas of toasted almond and hazelnut, along with notes of brown sugar, dried cranberry, fig jam, and subtle leather. It's dry and rich on the palate, showcasing flavors of dried fruit, cedarwood, toffee, and gentle spice. The finish is long and excellent with lingering notes of toasted nuts and seasoned oak. Kavalan 15-Year-Old Single Malt, 43% ABV, 750 ml. $149
The whisky is aged for 15 years in Taiwan's warm climate in a mix of ex-bourbon, Sherry, and both Ruby Port barrels and puncheons. It scored 95/100 points and a gold medal.
It features tropical fruit notes of candied mango, melon, and sweet citrus, along with caramel, chocolate, and leather. It's robust and concentrated on the palate, showcasing flavors of honey, herbal notes of aged tobacco leaf, caramel, candied fruit, and wood spices. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of tropical fruit, toffee, and seasoned oak. Kavalan, Solist PX Sherry, 56.3%, 750 ml. $699
This whisky is matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It offers a rich, indulgent, dessert-style whisky. The whisky scored 95/100 points and a gold medal.
The whisky features aromas of toffee, fig jam, Christmas cake, and toasted almond. It's dense and syrupy on the palate, showcasing flavors of dark dried fruit, heavy caramel, and wood spices. The finish is thick, sweet, and powerful, with lingering notes of raisin and burnt sugar.
Below is a summary of the other gold medal-winning soloist expressions.
Some additional award-winning expressions in Kavalan's Solist Series. Chart, J Micallef
These Kavalan whiskies all scored 94 points and were awarded gold medals: King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Master's Select Reserve No.1 Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Madeira Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, and Kavalan Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky.
Scoring 93 points and also winning gold medals were: Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Distillery Select No.2 Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Port Oak Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Lán Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Peated Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, and Kavalan Solist Palo Cortado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky.
Also winning gold medals, scoring 91 points, were Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky and Kavalan Master's Select Reserve No.2 Single Malt Whisky. Kavalan Wine Oak Single Malt Whisky also scored 91 points and received a gold medal.
Two other whisky expressions also earned gold medals. Hériose Le Classique Whisky, a French whisky, scored 93 points, and—perhaps most surprisingly—Keris Silver Single Malt Whisky, an Indonesian whisky, scored 91 points.
The 2025 BevTest results reaffirm a continuing shift in the whisky world: excellence knows no borders. Kavalan's dominance, with its climate-driven maturation and experimental cask finishes, represents a new paradigm for what world-class whisky can look and taste like.
The performance of unexpected medalists from France and Indonesia further emphasizes that innovation and craftsmanship are flourishing globally. Whether you're a collector, connoisseur, or curious newcomer, these award-winning whiskies are a testament to the boundless potential of modern whisky making—and they're well worth exploring.
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