Everything you need to know about Nantou Distillery

Overview & History

Nantou Distillery is located in Nantou County in central Taiwan and is operated by the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation (TTL), a government-owned company with a long history in alcohol production.

The distillery originally focused on producing traditional Chinese spirits and other alcoholic beverages. Whisky production began in 2008 as Taiwan expanded into premium whisky production alongside private distilleries such as Kavalan.

The distillery’s whisky is marketed under the Omar brand.

Production

• Spirit Type: Single malt whisky

• Distillation: Copper pot stills

• Water Source: Local mountain spring water from Taiwan’s central mountain range

• Climate: Subtropical climate with warm temperatures and high humidity

• Cask Policy: Ex-bourbon, sherry, and wine casks

Like other Taiwanese distilleries, Nantou benefits from accelerated maturation due to the warm climate, which increases interaction between spirit and oak.

Whisky Style

Omar whiskies typically show:

• Rich tropical fruit

• Honey and vanilla sweetness

• Toasted oak

• Light spice

• Smooth, rounded texture

The warm maturation environment tends to produce concentrated flavours even in relatively young whiskies.

Key Expressions

• Omar Single Malt Bourbon Cask – Vanilla and orchard fruit character

• Omar Single Malt Sherry Cask – Rich dried fruit and spice

• Omar Cask Strength Releases – Limited bottlings highlighting specific casks

These expressions demonstrate the distillery’s emphasis on cask influence.

Significance

Nantou Distillery plays an important role in Taiwan’s emerging whisky industry. Alongside Kavalan, it helped establish Taiwan as a credible whisky-producing region.

Its state ownership and long-standing experience in alcohol production provide a different operational model compared with privately owned distilleries, contributing to the diversification of Taiwan’s whisky sector.