Written by Mika Tanimoto, Owner-Bartender, Bar Little Happiness
“Whisky cannot be made in the subtropics.”
That was the consensus among whisky experts worldwide — until Kavalan Distillery proved them all wrong.
And the man who spent 15 years at the heart of that proof is Ian Chang.
On July 4th, 2026, Ian Chang will be at the counter of Bar Little Happiness in Hiroshima.
Who Is Ian Chang?
Ian Chang served as Master Distiller & Blender at Kavalan Distillery in Yilan, Taiwan — the distillery that turned the whisky world upside down — for 15 years.
Kavalan was founded in 2005 in a subtropical climate where temperatures regularly exceed 30°C in summer and humidity reaches 100%. The entire whisky industry said it was impossible. The founder was told so, repeatedly, by experts around the globe.
Yet Kavalan not only succeeded — it dominated.
- 2012: Solist Fino Sherry Cask named New World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
- 2015: Solist Vinho Barrique named World’s Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards
- 2016: Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year at IWSC
- 2026: Distiller of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards
- Over 950 gold medals since founding
Ian Chang himself has won more than 500 gold medals and trophies as an individual, becoming the first Chinese-speaking Master Distiller & Blender in history.
In 2020, Ian took on a new challenge — joining KOMORO Distillery in Komoro, Nagano, Japan, perched at 910 meters above sea level at the foot of Mt. Asama.
My First Encounter with Kavalan
I first encountered Kavalan sometime in the early 2010s, about 5 or 6 years into running Bar Little Happiness.
Honestly, I can only remember the color of the bottle. It was blue.
But the moment I tasted it — I was completely stunned.
What is this richness? What is this depth?
I had never tasted anything like it. From that day, I was captivated by Kavalan’s Solist Series. “Rich and lush” — I still think those words suit it better than any others.
But what I felt most deeply, beyond the flavor, was this:
Someone’s fierce intention lives inside this bottle.
Not just “delicious.” The whisky carried with it a powerful will — “We will make world-class whisky in Taiwan.” And that will reached me through the glass as pure, undeniable taste.
The Moment I Met Ian Chang
In March 2026, I was at the KOMORO Distillery Festival in Nagano.
I attended a seminar with Ian Chang, alongside Ishihara-san from Kanosuke Distillery and Kuroha-san from Asaka Distillery. I was sitting in the very back row.
The spirit being tasted that day was a ruby port cask — still under three years old.
First, the color. A beautiful, clear red.
Then the nose. Clean — strikingly clean. No rawness. No rough edges. Just a beautifully defined direction, already so clear, so complete, in something this young.
This person is a genius, I thought. I genuinely thought it.
And then I noticed something else about Ian Chang. Despite his global stature — here was someone who never once lost his posture of respect. Toward the other distillers beside him. Toward every person listening in the audience. That grace never wavered.
A whisky made by someone like this, I thought, must be something that values harmony above all.
Right then I decided: I have to trace the roots.
The origin of that clean, extraordinary spirit in my glass — it lives in Kavalan. In the 15 years Ian Chang spent building it.
I have to see it with my own eyes. I have to taste it with my own tongue.
I booked a flight to Taiwan for July — to visit Kavalan Distillery myself.
An Email I Never Expected
Everything was moving forward quietly. The flights were booked. The distillery visit was arranged.
And then — an email arrived. From Ian Chang’s team.
“Would you like to host a tasting event at Bar Little Happiness?”
My first thought, honestly? Is this a prank?
But the email was too specific, too detailed. Nobody goes to this much trouble for a joke.
That’s when it became real. He’s actually coming.
A Connection That Feels Like Fate
Two days after I visit Kavalan Distillery in Taiwan — the place where Ian Chang spent 15 years — Ian Chang himself will be standing at the counter of Bar Little Happiness.
Everything is connected in a way that feels almost unreal.
In Japanese, we have a word: Hitsuzen — 必然. It means “inevitable.” Not coincidence. Not luck. Something that was always meant to happen.
That’s the only word I have for this.
Event Details
Ian Chang Special Tasting Event
📅 Saturday, July 4, 2026 — evening
📍 Bar Little Happiness, Nagarekawa, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
🎟 Limited seats — application required
For details and to apply, please register with our official LINE.
“Whisky and rum — they become more delicious the moment you touch the soul of the person who made them.”
Every encounter is inevitable. Welcome to the world of Rum & Whisky.
— Mika Tanimoto