Taiwan’s OMAR Whisky launches in the US

Taiwan’s OMAR Single Malt Whisky has been launched in the US market, following in the footsteps of another of the island’s famed whisky distillers, Kavalan.

The distillery located in Nantou, a land-locked county in the central part of the pacific island, is offering two versions of its single malt whisky, one aged in bourbon casks and other aged in sherry casks.

Different from Kavalan, a family owned distillery set up in 2005, OMAR whisky is produced by Nantou Whisky Distillery, a state-owned operation by the Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation.

Established in 2008, Nantou Whisky Distillery is equipped with three malt storage tanks, one grain miller, one lauter mash tun, eight stainless steel washbacks, and two pairs of proper pairs of copper pot-stills.

According to the distillery, it can only make whisky from October to the following April, due to the high temperatures in summer. The hot and humid climate consequently would result in about 6-7% of its total volume or ‘Angel’s Share’ lost every year.

Taiwan is a major consumer market for whisky. In 2015 it ranked as the fourth largest market by value for Scotch, behind the US, France, and Singapore, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.

Its local whisky production ability has been strengthened, as Kavalan and OMAR whiskies have won many international and local competitions.

The two whiskies, each carrying an alcohol strength of 43% abv, have been aged for four years.

In addition to whisky production, Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation also produces wine, fruit wines and other alcoholic beverages.