Construction of King Car company’s Kavalan distillery began in Yilan county in northeast Taiwan in 2005, with the first spirit running in March 2006. The Kavalan distillery was very much a passion project for King Car’s owner Tien‐Tsai Lee.

The distillery began with four stills, making spirit under the guidance and direction of the late Dr. Jim Swan. Kavalan’s visitor centre was opened in 2008 and became an immediate hit - after winning multiple awards the centre now hosts a million visitors each year.

Kavalan’s whiskies began winning international awards and tasting competitions almost immediately. Kavalan’s first release Kavalan Classic Single Malt bested several Scottish single malts at a Burns Night tasting in Edinburgh in 2009, and went on to win an IWSC Trophy in 2014.

The Kavalan Solist range was introduced in 2009 and was soon picking up multiple awards as well. Career highlights for this single cask range include IWSC Trophies in 2013 for Solist Bourbon, alongside Kavalan Solist Sherry's Best Sherried Whisky and Supreme Winner gongs at the Malt Maniacs Awards the same year. Kavalan's success culminated in 2015 when Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique, made using Dr. Swan’s STR-treatment, won Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whisky Awards.