South Korea may be better known for K-Pop, BTS, martial arts, or Gangnam Style, but whisky? That’s a new chapter. In 2018, Three Societies Distillery was founded, and by 2020, it began producing South Korea’s first single malt whisky under the Ki One name. “Ki One” translates to beginning and hope — fitting for a project that marks the dawn of a whisky industry in South Korea.
Recently, I had the chance to review three expressions from Ki One: the Eagle, Tiger, and Unicorn. Each bottle carries its own symbolism and national ties:
- 🦅 The Eagle represents the USA.
- 🐅 The Tiger represents Korea.
- 🦄 The Unicorn represents Scotland.
Even the packaging draws from Korean heritage, using colours that echo the traditional Hanbok — a beautiful nod to the country’s culture.
The Story Behind Ki One
Ki One is the product of an international collaboration:
- Andrew Shand, a Scotsman with more than 40 years’ experience at distilleries like Chivas, The Glenlivet, Nikka, Speyside Distillery, Virginia Distillery, and Copper Fox.
- Bryan Do, founder of Hand & Malt Brewing, a pioneer in Korea’s craft beer movement.
- Jun Seo, an Army officer turned engineer turned whisky distiller.
The distillery sits in the Namyangju Mountains northeast of Seoul. The climate here plays a dramatic role in maturation. In summer, whisky is baked under intense Korean heat, driving spirit deep into the oak. In winter, the distillery lies in the long shadow of Baekbong Mountain, with frigid temperatures forcing the spirit back. This extreme seasonal shift creates a powerful interaction between wood and spirit.
Ki One sources its malted barley from Scotland and primarily uses Kentucky bourbon barrels, while also experimenting with Oloroso, PX sherry, Madeira, Port, and French oak. All releases are non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
South Korea currently has no legal minimum ageing requirement for whisky, however, the whiskies now available in Australia are a minimum of three years old.
Ki One Eagle
Aged in a combination of new Missouri Oak and ex-Bourbon casks, and bottled at 43%.
- Nose: Vanilla and caramel with a strong oak presence.
- Palate: Sweet vanilla, nutmeg, hints of banana and raisins.
- Finish: Lingering oak with a little bit of cinnamon.
The Eagle feels slightly youthful, with flavours that suggest it could have benefited from more time in cask. Still, it shows promise and gives a window into Korea’s climate-driven maturation.
Ki One Tiger
Aged in a combination of Sherry and wine casks, and bottled at 46%.
- Nose: Light oak, faint smoke, honeyed fruit.
- Palate: Caramel sweetness, butterscotch, raisins, plum.
- Finish: Sweetness that fades quickly, leaving oak and subtle spice.
Inspired by an award-winning earlier batch (Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition), the Tiger has charm. The fruitiness shines, though the short finish leaves you wanting more.
Ki One Unicorn
Mate using Scottish peated malt, aged in new Oak and ex-Bourbon casks, and bottled at 46%.
- Nose: Gentle smoke, fallen leaves.
- Palate: Orange peel, oriental spice, honey, and citrus zest.
- Finish: Lingering smoke and sweet oak.
The Unicorn was my favourite of the three. It balances sweetness and smoke beautifully, and while light in character, it leaves a lasting impression. If you try one Ki One whisky, make it this one.
Final Thoughts
Ki One is an exciting start for Korean whisky. The Korean climate creates bold spirit interaction with wood in a short time, and the distillery’s willingness to innovate suggests even greater things to come.
At around $150 AUD per bottle (via Dan Murphy’s), these are premium drams for such a young industry. But if you’re curious about South Korea’s whisky future, they’re worth experiencing — especially the Unicorn.