Whisky flavor doesn't change even after long aging

This illustrates the potential for value appreciation in highly aged whiskies.

However, individual whisky transactions are illegal in Korea. This regulation, despite whisky's investment value, makes it difficult to realize actual profits. Price volatility due to economic conditions also acts as a risk factor for whisky investment.

Each country is allocated a fixed quantity of whisky, and the Korean branch sometimes adjusts supply prices based on the sales performance of its representatives.

Discounts also occur during the urgent disposal of inventory at the end of quarters. This, along with supply price differences based on purchase volume per client, exacerbates whisky price volatility.

Blended whisky is a product that mixes single malts and grain whiskies from various distilleries.

Single malt whisky, on the other hand, is made from 100% barley at a single distillery. Blended malt whisky is a blend of only various single malt whiskies, distinguishing it from blended whisky which includes grain whisky.

He points out that the term 'yangju' (Western liquor) blurs the unique characteristics of each type of alcohol.

This is similar to categorizing cars by genre, such as 'sports car' or 'sedan,' rather than just calling them 'cars.' It's about respecting the individuality of each liquor and conveying accurate information.

He pointed out that using 'yeonsan' (vintage year) to express whisky's aging period is incorrect terminology. 'Yeonsan' refers to the production year, like 'vintage' for wine, but for whisky, 'aging period' or 'Years Old' is the accurate expression.

This is because while wine's taste varies significantly by production year, whisky's quality is more influenced by its aging period. A 15-year-old whisky should be labeled '15 years' or '15 Years Old'.

Over long periods, the original liquid evaporates significantly, and personnel and technical costs are incurred for maintaining oak barrels.

Furthermore, high initial investment costs are required for liquor licenses and production facility construction for whisky production. Especially since whisky must be aged for at least 3 years before it can be sold, a long period of investment is needed without generating profits.

Due to the relatively cool and humid climate, less original liquid evaporates, and it takes a long time for flavors to condense.

Mr. Whisky believes that due to these climatic characteristics, Scotch whisky is considered good quality only after aging for at least 8-10 years. This is the result of establishing optimal aging periods through long-term accumulated data.

Korea is in its early stages, having started full-scale whisky production only 4-5 years ago. However, it is rapidly growing with the emergence of single malt distilleries like Kiwon Distillery.

Mr. Whisky believes that Korea can be sufficiently competitive in the whisky industry by leveraging its strength as a manufacturing powerhouse and the climatic advantages of Asia. Manufacturing technology and rapid production systems are expected to be growth drivers for the Korean whisky industry.

In the past, domestic spirits like 'Captain Q' were produced for mass appeal rather than luxury. At the time, they aimed to offer a taste and aroma similar to expensive foreign liquors at a low price.

However, there were limitations to luxury due to manufacturing methods. Captain Q is not classified as whisky due to differences in alcohol components and raw materials from typical whiskies. This is one reason why it took a long time for the domestic liquor industry to enter the luxury whisky market.

He argues that whisky's quality and style are primarily determined by the climate of the production region and the aging process. This means that the concept of 'terroir' for barley cultivation is not directly applicable to whisky as it is to wine.

Despite being a latecomer, Asian whisky has unique strengths that allow it to compete with Scotch whisky. The significant annual temperature difference in Asian countries actively promotes the contraction and expansion of oak barrels, accelerating aging in a short period.

Thanks to this climatic advantage, Asian whisky can achieve sufficient quality and competitiveness with a relatively short aging period of 3-5 years. This differentiates it from Scotch whisky, which requires longer aging periods.

This means direct exposure to market boom and bust cycles.

He specifically stated that distilleries that overinvested during the COVID-19 pandemic are currently facing difficulties with inventory risks and marketing costs. Failure to predict the market leads to massive inventory burdens and delayed return on investment.

Major sound investment opportunities in the whisky industry include global conglomerates. Diageo, owner of 'Johnnie Walker' and 'Talisker,' is the world's largest spirits company, and Pernod Ricard, with 'Ballantine's' and 'Royal Salute,' is also a traditional powerhouse.

Brown-Forman is gaining attention through brand renewal, and LVMH is targeting the luxury whisky market with 'Glenmorangie' and 'Ardbeg.' These companies lead the whisky market with vast capital and distribution networks.

Consumers purchase the long history, craftsmanship, and value of aged time from distilleries through whisky.

This is similar to the fashion industry, where consumers buy into the heritage and value of a brand. Whisky consumption is seen as more than just enjoying taste and aroma; it's about experiencing a particular culture and expanding one's experiences.

Traditionally, whisky connoisseurs considered 'water' to be the best accompaniment to enjoy the authentic taste of whisky. However, in the last 2-3 years, a culture of pairing whisky with food has rapidly emerged.

Currently, nuts, cheese, and chocolate are popular pairing accompaniments. However, he advises consuming chocolate in small amounts, as excessive intake can interfere with taste perception.

Most global whisky brands implement price control policies, so price differences between countries are not significant. However, in certain countries, some whiskies are cheaper.

For example, in Japan, whiskies like Glenlivet or Glenfarclas can be purchased at lower prices than in Korea. Mr. Whisky recommends comparing prices in advance on platforms like Naver Shopping to resolve information asymmetry and linking purchases to special experiences during travel.