Ki One: Korea's Bold Single Malt Trilogy

Ki One is Korea's first single malt whisky distillery, founded in 2018 in the Seoul neighborhood of Samyang dong. The whisky is shaped by what the distillery calls a "rapid maturation environment": Seoul's punishing summer heat and bitter winter cold force the spirit into a fast and aggressive extraction of flavor from the wood, which is why the youngest Ki One releases taste remarkably older than their age statement. The brand's lineup is built around a Korean zodiac inspired menagerie: Tiger, Eagle, and the flagship Unicorn.

The Tiger: Sherry Cask and Wine Cask Depth

Ki One Tiger is Batch 3 of Ki One's Oloroso Sherry Cask series, a limited run bottled with a distinctly higher proportion of sherry matured spirit in the blend. Unlike the core range, the Tiger expression is matured in sherry and wine casks without chill filtration, which leaves the spirit heavy with natural oils and texture. The result won a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2026 and achieved category winner status at the World Whiskies Awards the same year.

On the nose, the Tiger opens with ripe fruits, sweet honey, and oak. The palate delivers creamy caramel, butterscotch, raisin, and nutmeg, and the finish lands on apple, plum, rich oak, and Oriental spices. At 46% ABV, it is bottled without chill filtration for an unfiltered, cask driven character.

Ki One's Korean climate is a defining force across the entire lineup, but it matters most in the sherry casks. The distillery explains that "distilled whiskies continue to mature only in oak wood, so, of course, the climate difference is most evident in the maturation stage." That rapid cycling of hot and cold in Korea drives the sherry influence deeper into the spirit over a far shorter period than you would expect from a Scotch reference point, producing the dense, dark fruit profile that earned the Tiger its awards.

The Eagle: Kentucky and Missouri Oak in Seoul

Ki One Eagle is the core range's boldest experiment in American oak. The whisky blends Kentucky Bourbon casks with Missouri new oak casks, a marriage that builds complex layers of caramel, vanilla, and tropical fruit. The influence of those two distinctly different American oaks gives the Eagle its character, all of it pushed to greater intensity by Korea's extreme temperature swings. At 43% ABV it is the softest of the three in strength, though with new oak at work there is no shortage of presence.

Eagle is non chill filtered, keeping the mouthfeel full and the flavors intact. It is the straightest expression of Ki One's maturation philosophy: the distillery says it uses "only 100% natural oak wood virgin casks" for some of its range, and the Eagle shows what that restraint produces when the wood is allowed to do most of the talking.

The Unicorn: Peated Single Malt and IWSC Gold Outstanding

Ki One Unicorn is the brand's peated single malt, made with peated malt that's been through what the distillery describes as "a germination process assisted by artificial rain control to induce specific biochemical changes." The whisky is non chill filtered and naturally coloured, bottled at 46% ABV.

The nose presents damp and burning autumn leaves, the palate opens with orange peel and oriental spices, and the finish delivers sweet honey, plums, and rich oak earthiness. It is also the most decorated whisky in the Ki One range: Gold Outstanding at the IWSC 2025 with 98 points, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Gold at the International Spirits Challenge.

"It's very clear from the first moment that this is Korea. We are not going to mimic Scotch, we are going to produce a whisky in Korea with its own unique identity."

Do, who trained in Scotland at Heriot Watt University, set out to build a Korean whisky scene literally from scratch. The distillery claims a number of domestic firsts, from the first Korean single malt to the first to employ a dedicated in house cooperage. The zodiac naming scheme extends beyond the core trio as well, with limited editions such as the Ki One Dog following the same logic of matching each spirit's temperament to its animal namesake.

Ki One has become a source of national pride in a category that barely existed in Korea a decade ago. For collectors outside Korea, the Tiger, Eagle and Unicorn are the most accessible way to taste what the Asian whisky boom looks like from the Korean side of the Pacific.

The Ki One Tiger, Ki One Eagle and Ki One Unicorn are available on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Ki One Tiger, Ki One Eagle and Ki One Unicorn?

They are three Korean single malt whiskies from Ki One, Seoul's first single malt distillery. Tiger is a sherry and wine cask release, Eagle is matured in Kentucky Bourbon and Missouri new oak casks, and Unicorn is a peated single malt.

What awards have the Ki One whiskies won?

Tiger won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2026 and category winner status at the World Whiskies Awards. Unicorn won Gold Outstanding at the IWSC 2025 with 98 points, plus Double Gold at SFWSC and Gold at ISC.

Where can I buy Ki One Tiger, Eagle and Unicorn?

All three bottles are available on Spiritory.

What ABV are the Ki One whiskies bottled at?

Tiger and Unicorn are bottled at 46% ABV, while Eagle is bottled at 43% ABV. All three are non chill filtered.