In a move aimed at bolstering its strategic expansion efforts in Asia, the Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), which owns the renowned Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), has inaugurated a subsidiary in Taiwan.
The ASC oversees the operations of the SMWS, a whisky membership entity boasting a global subscriber base exceeding 38,000 individuals.
Citing insights from IWSR 2022 data, the ASC emphasized that Taiwan ranks as the third-largest market worldwide for ultra-premium Scotch whisky in terms of value, boasting an estimated total value of US$593 million.
Andrew Dane, the CEO of the ASC and also the chair of SMWS Taiwan, underscored that the organization has now extended its presence to the world’s six largest markets, establishing a global reach that encompasses over 80% of the ultra-premium Scotch whisky sector valued at US$8.1 billion (IWSR 2022 data).
Highlighting the importance of the newly created SMWS Taiwan arm, the ASC delineated that this development signifies a pivotal step in the group’s overarching expansion strategy within Asia. The SMWS has already instituted similar subsidiaries in China and Japan, firmly positioning itself within the region.
The ASC’s endeavors in this direction have been gaining momentum, with the company having secured a new partnership in Malaysia during the past year and having entered into a franchise agreement in South Korea in April 2023.
