Imported by San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co., Taiwan’s acclaimed single malt whisky producer, Kavalan, introduced a special Year of the Horse Lunar New Year Gift Set of its award-winning Triple Sherry Cask expression (43% ABV; 700ml; $114.99 SRP), designed to celebrate the Year of the Horse, which falls on Tuesday, February 17, and symbolizes prosperity and good fortune. 

Awarded the Double Gold Medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the expression showcases Kavalan’s characteristic velvety texture and signature sweetness through maturation in a rare combination of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Moscatel casks. 

To embody the significance of the year and the luxury of the whisky, the Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Year of the Horse Gift Set features a golden horse – symbolizing vitality and good fortune – stepping over blooming peonies – representing prosperity – to evoke Kavalan’s rich cultural heritage; flowing gold lines echo Taiwan’s misty mountains. 

The bottle is accompanied by an elegant tulip-shaped snifter, designed to enhance aroma and elevate each sip. The bottle design features a fluid painting intertwined with white, gold, and red colors to symbolize the multilayered and smooth taste of three sherry cask whiskies, while also presenting the color combination of new make, whisky and sherry wine. Underscored on the tin capsule is a double silver line, symbolizing the Central Mountain and Snow Mountain ranges surrounding Kavalan Distillery.

“Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate heritage, renewal, and meaningful connection,” Hotaling & Co. CMO Brian Radics said in a news release. “Kavalan Whisky’s special Lunar New Year Gift Set reflects the brand’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and thoughtful design, offering consumers a refined way to mark the season and share moments of celebration with family and friends.”

Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky is a rare combination of three sherry-aged casks — Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, and Moscatel; Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel are known as the king and queen of sweet sherry, respectively.

After fully maturing Kavalan’s new make spirit in the individual sherry casks, Triple Sherry Cask reflects a balancing act of marrying vats. The process allows the three whiskies, once fully matured in the respective sherry casks, to rest and meld together in perfect fusion, locking in optimal smoothness.

“During this process, the flavors harmonize through a myriad combination of the three sherry cask whiskies, creating up to nine distinct sherry dimensions. With the dried fruits of the Oloroso cask as its main character, Triple Sherry is embellished with the sweetness of PX and Moscatel casks,” Senior Blender Zerose Yang said.

For more information on Kavalan or distribution, visit hotalingandco.com and www.kavalanwhisky.com. The Year of the Horse Lunar New Year Gift Set will be available in select markets and at Hotaling & Co.’s Bottle Shop.

Read more: Kavalan Releases 15-Year Single Malt Whiskey

About Kavalan Distillery 

Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Taking Yilan County’s old name, the distillery is backed by about 40 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. For more information, visit https://www.kavalanwhisky.com/.

About Hotaling & Co.

A born and bred San Francisco original, Hotaling & Co. is the leading distiller and importer of artisanal spirits and cocktail essentials. With dedication to artisanal spirits first started in 1993 under the name Anchor Distilling Company, which heralded the return to copper pot distilling in the U.S. with the original craft introductions of Junipero Gin & Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, Hotaling & Co. carries on a pioneering legacy through its name, giving a nod to the local legend A.P. Hotaling, who ventured West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country and a notable figure in American drinking culture. For more information, visit https://www.hotalingandco.com/.