When Whisky meets Art -

During the second Auckland lockdown in 2021 I had a unique experience creating a large abstract painting for the NZ Whisky Club for a Whisky label - Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique. This whisky was awarded the 2015 World Whisky Awards and considered World 's best Single Malt Whisky. 

The collaboration project was meaningful to me because as we were entrenched in the second Covid year, unable to visit family and friends in home countries, we all feel homesick and miss the freedom to travel.

The NZ Whisky Club had this idea to bottle their own casket of whisky and create a commemorative label for the club to uplift the spirit of the members. By sharing this special edition of Kavalan they connect friends and relieve homesickness.

As most of the members of the NZ Whisky Club are from Taiwan, Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique produced by the King Car distillers in Taiwan became the obvious choice for this special occasion.

The NZ Whisky Club approached me to create this label and they chose a most wonderful theme “Boundless Oceans & Vast Skies,” wishing we will be free of Covid and be able to travel and visit our homeland soon.

Upon receiving this assignment, I just fell in love with the idea. My imagination kicked into gear. I’m seeing sunlight bursting, dolphins leaping, water splashing, schools of fish swimming with the currents. Of course these images were abstracted into shapes, lines, dots and circles in bold brush strokes and vibrant colours. I want to express the emotions of joy, energy, excitement and exuberance, a state of carefree and happiness that we all long for.

To see the original painting, please click the link.

Previously I had zero knowledge about Whisky, but living in the wine country New Zealand, it is natural to develop an appreciation for the wine culture. According to the experts, to mature their Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique expression, the King Car distillers in Taiwan use casks which have held both red and white wines, before being re-toasted. The whisky is fully matured in these casks to help their Taiwanese single malt develop a bold, expressive flavour profile brimming with berry, plum and caramelised sugar notes. At the Los Angeles Wine & Spirits Competition this exciting Taiwanese whisky received a Gold Medal and an impressive score of 91 out of 100. 

I love how art can be enjoyed in our everyday life through collaboration with different products. I look forward to more projects like this!