幾輪角逐之后，今年，來自臺灣的威士忌噶瑪蘭打敗勁敵蘇格蘭威士忌和日本威士忌，榮登著名的“世界威士忌大獎”榜單首位。

作為單一麥芽威士忌類別的冠軍，噶瑪蘭經典獨奏葡萄酒桶威士忌原酒傲居榜首，又一次將蘇格蘭威士忌打敗。

“我首先要感謝英國的Whisky Magazine舉辦這場比賽，讓我們有機會與各國優秀的蒸餾廠交流，為臺灣爭光，”噶瑪蘭首席調和大師Ian Zhang如是說，“這更意味著臺灣的威士忌備受國際肯定，”他補充道，“我們將繼續努力生產優質的生命之水。”

噶瑪蘭與日本山崎單一麥芽雪莉桶都被收入了Jim Murray的《威士忌圣經》一書。而噶瑪蘭奪魁也印證了亞洲威士忌地位的不斷上升。噶瑪蘭短暫的歷史更使它的獲此殊榮再添傳奇。其蒸餾廠于2005年落成，而第一瓶威士忌直到2008才上市。

據描述，此款威士忌有“甜梅子的味道”，并有水果蛋糕、丁香、紅辣椒、肉桂和胡桃木的香味，由臺灣的King Car生產，于美國橡木桶中陳年，這些橡木桶之前用于陳化紅、白葡萄酒。

另，混合純麥威士忌類別贏家是日本竹鶴純麥17年，最佳美國威士忌花落托馬斯·H·翰迪薩澤拉克黑麥威士忌，來自英國That Boutique-y 威士忌公司的混合蘇格蘭威士忌則是最佳調和威士忌類別的冠軍。

In a surprising turn of events, Kavalan – a whisky from Taiwan – has come out on top in this year’s edition of the prestigious World Whiskies Awards, beating heavyweights Scotland and Japan.

Winner of the single malt whisky category, Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength topped the list, in a victory once again pushing Scotland off its pedestal.

“I would like to thank Whisky Magazine for hosting this competition, which has allowed us to communicate with elite distilleries from all other countries, and win this special honour for Taiwan,” said Ian Zhang, chief blender at Kavalan.

“This means Taiwanese whiskies are well received by the world,” he added. “We will keep up the good work and keep producing high quality ‘water of life’.”

Along with Japanese Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask, top-ranked in this year’s edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, Kavalan’s award confirms the growing significance of Asian whisky. The recognition is especially impressive given Kavalan’s short history. The distillery was founded in 2005 and only released its first whisky in 2008.

The whisky, described as displaying “sweet pruney flavours”, along with fruit cake, clove, chilli, cinnamon, and walnut, is produced by King Car in Taiwan and matured in American oak barrels previously used for red and white wine.

Other winners included Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 Years Old in the blended malts category, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey as the best American whiskey, and That Boutique-y Whisky Company Blended Whisky #1 – Batch 1 from the UK, as winner of best blended whisky.