Korean Single Malts From Three Societies Arrive In U.S.

by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
September 22, 2022

Three Societies describes itself as the world’s first Korean single malt distillery, having been founded in Namyangju, South Korea, back in 2020. Named for the three countries represented by its multinational distilling team, it has recently seen some of its whiskeys arrive at American retail.

Part of the Three Societies’ Ki One Society Collection, a series of whiskies from a limited run back in 2020, the first of the series to arrive from importer Skurnik Wines & Spirits is Ki One Tiger Edition. It was distilled from malted barley sourced from Scotland and England. It saw a minimum 100-hour fermentation before being twice distilled in a Forsyths copper pot still and matured in new American oak casks for 13 months.

Said to show “depth and complexity far beyond its age statement thanks to Namyangju’s extreme seasonal climate fluctuations,” official tasting notes make mention of “waves tropical fruit and spice [that] greet the nose with ripe mango, toasted cinnamon, and grilled persimmon. The palate is heavenly—round and luscious with generous confectionary flavors reminiscent of peach cobbler, crème brûlée, and clove-studded orange peel.

Ki One Unicorn Edition — Three Societies describes itself as the world’s first Korean single malt distillery, having been founded in Namyangju, South Korea, back in 2020. Named for the three countries represented by its multinational distilling team, it has recently seen some of its whiskeys arrive at American retail. (image via Three Societies)

“As it rides out, the fruit backs off a bit, transitioning into brioche and kaya (coconut and pandan jam) with a hint of white oak and maltwine.”

For this particular offering, only 216 200ml bottles, each clocking in at 56.2% ABV, are being made available in the States.

Joining this release is Ki One Unicorn Edition. Produced in much the same fashion as Tiger Edition, it was aged 21 months in new American oak barrels. Official tasting notes for it make mention that “the youthful, racy spice of the collection’s Tiger Edition is tempered by the additional aging through Korea’s fall and winter seasons, showing richer, deeper notes of ripe banana, stewed peaches, caramelized oats, and toasted barley along with plenty of tropical fruit and gingery allspice.”

Bottled at 56.6% ABV, only 210 200ml bottles have been imported for this run.

The names of the whiskies harken back to the naming convention of the distillery. The distillery’s crest symbolizes each country’s national animals: the Korean Tiger, the American Bald Eagle, and the Scottish Unicorn. Korean American Founder, Bryan Do, is the driving force behind this operation, teaming with Scottish Master Distiller and Master Blender, Andrew Shand, to produce Three Societies’ expressions.