The World's Best Whiskey—According To The International Whiskey Competition

Forbes

04-07-2025

Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky earned world's best honors at this year's International Whiskey Competition Kavalan Single Malt Whisky
The International Whiskey Competition announced Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky as the whiskey of the year for 2025 in late June. The whiskey, made in Taiwan, outscored all other whiskeys entered in the competition—including bourbons, Scotches and more—earning the 97.04 rating, the highest score of the year.
Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky rose to the top of the judges' scoring sheets after rigorous double-blind taste-testing in which judges tasted whiskeys blind to their names, countries of origin, categories, or ABV. 'Each whisky is evaluated individually by a single panel, ensuring fairness and depth of analysis. Each entry is scored on its own merits,' said Max Solano, competition director for the International Whisky Competition, via email.
Unlike many other spirits competitions, the International Whiskey Competition only awards three medals: gold, silver and bronze per category. Because of this, Solano said, 'Producers tend to submit their very best. Any judge on the IWC panel will tell you it is rare to come across a whiskey that does not meet a high standard.' Solano added, 'This year, we saw a growing trend toward experimental distilling, new barrel treatment techniques, and the emergence of regions previously overlooked. The international diversity and high average quality of submissions were impressive.'
Nowhere was that geographic diversity more apparent than in the whiskey that earned the world's best honors for 2025.
Kavalan Distillery in Yuanshan Township, Yilan County, Taiwan. The distillery took home top honors at this year's International Whisky Competition. Kavalan Distillery
Judges were instantly wowed by the complexity of the Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky. Adam Edmondson, Master of Whiskey at The International Whiskey Competition, noted: 'On the nose, it bursts with mango, apricot, and grilled pineapple, layered with almonds, dried figs, and oak spice. The palate offers rich plum, brandied cherries, dark chocolate, and the dry finesse of fino sherry. The finish lingers with coffee, sandalwood, and dried citrus.'
Solano said, 'The Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky stood out for its depth and elegance.' He adds, 'it delivers a complex, layered experience from start to finish. On the nose, there are notes of mango, apricot, and grilled pineapple, layered with almonds, dried figs, and oak spice. The palate offers rich plum, brandied cherries, dark chocolate, and the dry finesse of fino sherry. The finish lingers with coffee, sandalwood, and dried citrus, all wrapped in a silky texture that carries through beautifully. It is both powerful and refined. Additional Awards For Kavalan Whiskey
Zerose Yang, Kavalan Distillery's head of R&D, was named Master Distiller of the Year at the International Whiskey Competition. Kavalan Distillery
In addition to winning whiskey of the year honors, Kavalan Distillery also took home 'Distillery of the Year' honors, and Zerose Yang, the distillery's head of R&D, was named Master Distiller of the Year. The distillery also had three whiskeys ranked in the top 15 rated whiskeys at the competition. The No. 1 ranked Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was, of course, one of these, but the distillery also turned heads for the Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, which scored 95.78 points, and for its No. 11—Solist Palo Cortado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, which scored 95.68 points.
Solano said overall Kavalan Distillery showcased 'what modern Taiwanese whisky is capable of when tradition meets innovation.'