几轮角逐之后，今年，来自台湾的威士忌噶玛兰打败劲敌苏格兰威士忌和日本威士忌，荣登著名的“世界威士忌大奖”榜单首位。

作为单一麦芽威士忌类别的冠军，噶玛兰经典独奏葡萄酒桶威士忌原酒傲居榜首，又一次将苏格兰威士忌打败。

“我首先要感谢英国的Whisky Magazine举办这场比赛，让我们有机会与各国优秀的蒸馏厂交流，为台湾争光，”噶玛兰首席调和大师Ian Zhang如是说，“这更意味着台湾的威士忌备受国际肯定，”他补充道，“我们将继续努力生产优质的生命之水。”

噶玛兰与日本山崎单一麦芽雪莉桶都被收入了Jim Murray的《威士忌圣经》一书。而噶玛兰夺魁也印证了亚洲威士忌地位的不断上升。噶玛兰短暂的历史更使它的获此殊荣再添传奇。其蒸馏厂于2005年落成，而第一瓶威士忌直到2008才上市。

据描述，此款威士忌有“甜梅子的味道”，并有水果蛋糕、丁香、红辣椒、肉桂和胡桃木的香味，由台湾的King Car生产，于美国橡木桶中陈年，这些橡木桶之前用于陈化红、白葡萄酒。

另，混合纯麦威士忌类别赢家是日本竹鹤纯麦17年，最佳美国威士忌花落托马斯·H·翰迪萨泽拉克黑麦威士忌，来自英国That Boutique-y 威士忌公司的混合苏格兰威士忌则是最佳调和威士忌类别的冠军。

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.