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First Korean whisky launches in UK market

31 July 2024 By Sarah Neish

The first Korean whisky to be released in the UK market will be available from 1 August. But what’s the reason behind its unusually fast ageing?

Korea’s Ki One whisky, distilled at Three Societies in Namyangju, around 40 minutes from Seoul, will be available to purchase in the UK from this week. The move marks the first time a Korean whisky is available for UK consumers to buy.

Ki One is also the first single malt to be produced in Korea, and the name of the Three Societies distillery represents the trifold heritage of the whisky’s makers – Korean-American founder Bryan Do, and Scottish distiller Andrew Shand – with the company crest depicting their three national animals: the Korean Tiger, the American Bald Eagle, and the Scottish Unicorn.

Available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange from 1 August, Ki One has aromas of milk chocolate, spiced shortbread and buttery Eccles cakes, according to Bill Abbott, ambassador for the retailer, as well as notes of “caramel and toffee sauce poured over a slice of spiced apple pie joined by a touch of maraschino cherry.” There is buttery pastry and “fragrant polished oak” on the finish.

Unusually fast ageing

Namyangju, where the whisky is made, sees dramatic temperature swings from 30°C in summer to -20°C in winter, which the producer claims “speeds up” the ageing process, resulting in a “bold and refined whisky despite its relatively young age”.

Shand estimates that the unique climate results in 2.5 to four times faster cask maturation compared with the rate of ageing in Scotland, with whiskies made in this part of Korea coming into their own in as little as one year.

Ki One is matured in new American oak, which lends the spirit its spicy notes, something the whisky’s creators deliberately sought out to achieve as spice is inherently present in nearly all Korean food.

While Three Societies, founded in 2020, is the first whisky distillery to set up shop in Korea, Shand has previously held leading distilling roles at Japanese producer Nikka, as well as Glenlivet in Speyside, so brings extensive experience from established whisky cultures to Ki One.

“We’re always on the lookout for up-and-coming distilleries from all over the world, so when we had the opportunity to launch Ki One in the UK we jumped at it,” said Dawn Davies MW, buying director for The Whisky Exchange.

“This distillery is one to watch in the coming years, with big ambitions and great potential. It’s exciting to continue to see more whiskies of quality coming out of Asia, and to be such an integral part in the story of Korea’s first single malt journey is something we’re really proud of.”

Ki One will carry a price tag of £79.95 per bottle via The Whisky Exchange.