Category: Taiwan

15 Years of Texas Whiskey

Texas is booming as a whiskey region, with distilleries all over the Lone Star State. That history only goes back about 15 years, when pioneers… Read More

Texas is booming as a whiskey region, with distilleries all over the Lone Star State. That history only goes back about 15 years, when pioneers like Balcones Distilling and Garrison Brothers started out. During the recent 15th anniversary celebrations at Balcones, Texas Whiskey Festival co-founder Jake Clements moderated a panel (and tasting) on the first 15 years of Texas whiskey. We’re bringing you that discussion this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, with panelists Jared Himstedt of Balcones, Dan Garrison of Garrison Brothers, Ironroot Republic’s Robert Likarish, and Ty Phelps of Andalusia Whiskey. In the news, The Lakes Distillery in England is being sold, while Edrington is selling off its Noble Oak American Whiskey brand.

Episode 1051: April 7: 2024

Links: Balcones Distilling | Garrison Brothers Distilling | Ironroot Republic Distilling | Andalusia Whiskey | The Lakes Distillery | Noble Oak | Highland Park | Gordon & MacPhail | Old Fitzgerald | Orphan Barrel | Booker’s Bourbon | Whiskey JYPSI | 2XO Whiskey | High West | Kavalan | High N’ Wicked | Torabhaig Distillery | Dewar’s

Scotch Whisky Exports Decline in 2023

In what industry executives describe as a “challenging year” for the spirits industry, 2023 proved to be a down year for Scotch Whisky exports. New… Read More

In what industry executives describe as a “challenging year” for the spirits industry, 2023 proved to be a down year for Scotch Whisky exports. New data released by the Scotch Whisky Association show a 9.5% decline in the value of exports during 2023 compared to 2022, which has been called an outlier year because of the boom in exports and spirits sales globally following the end of the pandemic. Volume declined by 19% year over year as consumer demand for spirits slipped given current economic headwinds.

Exports to the U.S., traditionally Scotch Whisky’s largest export market by value, were down by 7%, mirroring a report last week from the Distilled Spirits Council showing a similar decline in Scotch sales. The numbers are even worse when compared to 2019, which the SWA has used to compare pre and post-pandemic data, showing an 8.5% drop in value compared to that year. The U.S. was the only one of the top 10 export markets to show a decline in value year over year, which SWA leaders blame on global economic conditions and rising living costs for consumers.

Globally, Scotch Whisky exports were valued at £5.6 billion GBP in 2023, up 14% in value when compared to 2019. The volume of exports was down 19% from 2022, but showed a 3% gain over the 2019 numbers. The Asia-Pacific region was Scotch Whisky’s largest regional market by value, largely based on increased exports to China, Singapore, and Taiwan.

India, which the SWA and whisky makers have long targeted as a market ripe for expansion, showed significant declines in both value (down 22%) and volume (down 24%) from 2022 results. However, India showed strong increases in both volume and value from 2019, with a 31% gain in value and a 27% gain in volume.

More details on the report are available here.

Kavalan Introduces Red Wine Cask-Matured Whisky

Taiwan-based Kavalan has released Solist French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – a whisky matured in a French red wine cask. Kavalan Solist French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was matured in the aforementioned French red wine cask, bottled at 57.1% alcohol by volume [114.2 proof] and is said […]

Taiwan-based Kavalan has released Solist French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – a whisky matured in a French red wine cask.

Kavalan Solist French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was matured in the aforementioned French red wine cask, bottled at 57.1% alcohol by volume [114.2 proof] and is said to contain notes of is apple, guava, plum and pomegranate.

Kavalan Solist French Wine Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky is only being made available in Kavalan’s Taiwanese stores and the distillery for $205 per 750ml bottle.

Additionally, Kavalan’s four boutique stores in Shanghai will release an engraved Special Release edition of the bottle for $285 per bottle.

Kavalan Offers Triple Sherry Cask

Taiwan-based Kavalan has released Triple Sherry Cask – a whisky matured in a combination of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel-aged casks. Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask was bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and is said to contain notes of chocolate, cinnamon, citrus and toffee. Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask is being made available […]

Taiwan-based Kavalan has released Triple Sherry Cask – a whisky matured in a combination of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel-aged casks.

Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask was bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and is said to contain notes of chocolate, cinnamon, citrus and toffee.

Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask is being made available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Guam, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia and Singapore for $85 per 700ml bottle.