NEWS
CHINESE WHISKY CROWNED WORLD’S BEST BLENDED MALT AT WWA 2026
By Staff Reporter
4-5-2026
Source: handout
In a landmark moment for China’s emerging whisky industry, Kwun Cheung (观橡), a homegrown blended malt whisky, has been named World’s Best Blended Malt at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards (WWA).
Hosted by the UK’s Whisky Magazine on 1 May, the victory marks the first time a Chinese mainland whisky has claimed a “World’s Best” title at the respected global competition.
Crafted by Guangzhou-based brand Kwun Cheung, in collaboration with Shunchangyuan Lingnan Lychee Winery and the McMiracle team, the award-winning expression is a 100 percent Chinese oak-cask-aged blended malt, distilled and matured entirely in China.
It is aged in Mongolian oak casks from Changbai Mountain and finished in casks previously used for kumquat and lychee liquors, delivering a signature sweet, smooth profile with hints of tropical fruit, vanilla, and subtle oak spice.
Bottled at 48 percent ABV, the whisky also secured a clean sweep of Chinese regional honours at WWA 2026, including China’s Best Blended Malt, No Age Statement Blended Malt Champion, and a Gold Medal.
This follows the brand’s 2025 WWA success, where its single malt expression won China’s Best Single Cask Single Malt and a Gold Medal, cementing Kwun Cheung’s status as a trailblazer for Chinese whisky craftsmanship.
Launched in 2007, the WWA is one of the industry’s most authoritative global competitions, evaluating thousands of entries from over 30 countries across more than 30 taste and design categories.
The Blended Malt category requires whiskies to be blended from single malts distilled at two or more different distilleries, with no grain whisky included, and bottled at a minimum 40 percent ABV.
Huang Shan, co-founder and master blender of Kwun Cheung, accepted the award at the ceremony held at London’s Waldorf Hotel, hailing the win as a “milestone for Chinese whisky and terroir-driven spirits”.
“This award is not just for Kwun Cheung, but for the entire Chinese whisky community that has spent years perfecting our craft and exploring local oak and fruit cask finishes,” he said. “We aim to showcase China’s unique terroir and traditional fruit brandy heritage on the global stage.”
The victory underscores the rapid rise of Asia’s whisky sector, with Chinese producers increasingly challenging established players from Scotland, Japan, and Taiwan.
Driven by young consumers’ demand for premium, locally crafted spirits, China’s whisky market has seen double-digit growth in recent years, with a focus on expressions that highlight indigenous ingredients and ageing techniques.
Kwun Cheung’s award-winning blended malt is set for a limited global release in mid-2026, with initial allocations in Hong Kong, Singapore, and key European markets.
The brand plans to expand its portfolio with more terroir-focused expressions, including a single malt aged in wild jujube casks later this year.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
**IF YOU THINK THE WINE CHRONICLE IS WORTH SUPPORTING, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP US IMPROVE AND CONTINUE OUR WORK**
TRENDING│ FOCUS│ MISSION│ ABOUT US│ CONTACT
| 