A small Korean town's whisky stuns the world — top prize at major competition for 2nd consecutive year

A whisky produced in Hwado-eup, Namyangju has won top honors at a prestigious international spirits competition for the second consecutive year.

According to Namyangju City, Kiwon Whisky — which operates its production facility in Hwado-eup — took the Best of Class award in the Other Single Malt Whisky category at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition on Sunday (local time) in San Francisco. The win follows last year's Best of Class for Kiwon Signature in the same category, making it two consecutive top prizes.

Kiwon Whisky began distilling in Namyangju in 2020, making it South Korea's first single malt whisky distillery. The company draws on the city's climate and natural environment in its production process and has expanded into overseas markets including the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

The latest award is particularly significant: it marks the second straight year a Namyangju-made whisky has earned recognition at a world-class competition, demonstrating that its quality extends well beyond the domestic market.

Kiwon Whisky has also been shortlisted as one of six finalists for the 2026 Worldwide Whisky Producer Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in the United Kingdom. The winner will be announced Nov. 24 (local time) in London.

Namyangju City has taken note of the local company's string of achievements. Mayor Choi Hyun-deok visited the Kiwon Whisky production facility in Hwado-eup on July 28, during a field office session, touring the site and discussing operations and future development with company officials.

The city is also pursuing plans to link Kiwon Whisky and other locally produced spirits with the region's tourism and cultural resources. It plans to hold a liquor festival next year, combining local distilleries with the area's distinctive character.

"It is a deeply meaningful achievement that a company born in Namyangju has won top honors on the world stage for two consecutive years," Mayor Choi said. "I hope Kiwon Whisky's drive and growth will serve as an opportunity to showcase the competitiveness of Korean whisky to the world."