Korea’s First Single Malt Whiskey Featuring Park Kiwoong’s Artwork... This Year’s Lotte ‘Art Label’

Lotte Department Store's 'Art Label Project'
This Year’s Limited Edition 'Giwon × Park Kiwoong' Whiskey Released
'Artistic Gourmet' Event at Avenuel Jamsil Runs Until the 25th

Korea's first single malt whiskey, Giwon, has embraced the artwork of Park Kiwoong, who transformed from an actor to a painter.

On September 12, Lotte Department Store unveiled the limited edition art whiskey, 'Giwon x Park Kiwoong Special Reserve,' created through a collaboration between Korea's first single malt whiskey brand, Giwon (KI ONE), and artist Kiwoong Park, at Lotte Department Store Avenuel in Jamsil, Seoul.

'Giwon x Park Kiwoong Special Reserve'

This collaboration was planned as part of Lotte Department Store's 'Art Label Project.' The Art Label Project, first introduced in 2023, is a limited-edition liquor project featuring collaborations with renowned domestic and international artists. In its inaugural year, wines were introduced in partnership with artist Park Seonki and Italy's Michele Chiarlo, as well as artist Ha Taeim and France's Andre Lurton, all of which sold out completely. Last year, the artwork of Korean modern art master Kim Whanki was featured on the label of Chilean wine 'Don Melchor.'

This year, the project expanded its scope from wine to whiskey. Choi Junsun, the Lotte Department Store sommelier who led this initiative, explained, "While planning this year's Art Special Edition, I wanted to take on a new challenge as a sommelier by exploring a different type of liquor instead of wine. Amid the growing popularity of K-culture, I visited the Giwon Distillery while searching for domestic whiskey distilleries, conducted a tasting, and recognized that the unique quality and distinctive fresh pine aroma of Giwon Whiskey represented a uniquely Korean identity, which led me to propose the collaboration."

Giwon Whiskey.

He continued, "After deciding on Giwon Whiskey as the project item, I looked for an artist who shared a spirit of new challenges. I discovered that Park Kiwoong, who spent 20 years as an actor after graduating from art school, had recently become an exclusive artist at a gallery and was pursuing his dreams as an 'art-tainer,' which inspired me to propose this collaboration." He added, "The collaboration between Giwon and artist Park Kiwoong is a special attempt to weave whiskey, art, and philosophy into a single narrative. Through this event, customers will be able to enjoy a new experience that satisfies all five senses."

This limited edition is crafted with original spirits carefully selected by Giwon Whiskey's master distiller Andrew Sand, who has 45 years of experience. It consists of two single malts, each matured in sherry casks and new oak casks. When the two bottles are placed side by side, Park Kiwoong's oil painting 'On the Rocks' forms a single artwork, showcasing an innovative design.

Artist Kiwoong Park is explaining about the 'Giwon x Kiwoong Park Special Reserve'.

The artwork includes a poem handwritten by the artist, conveying the message, "Bitterness is unavoidable, but the landscape of life changes depending on how you drink it." Park Kiwoong explained, "This work was an attempt to wittily place the imperfect rhythm of life atop a play on words between danger and whiskey. The short poem in the speech bubble may sound like a joke, but it is meant to express an attitude of not losing laughter even in precarious reality."

Through this project, Giwon Whiskey, now featuring Park Kiwoong's artwork, is Korea's first single malt whiskey, which began production in June 2020 in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. To date, it has received awards at more than 50 international liquor competitions. Most notably, it recently won the Worldwide Whisky Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2025, often called the Academy Awards of the liquor industry. Achieving this honor just five years after its founding, Giwon is recognized as the brand that reached the top of the global single malt whiskey world in the shortest time in history.

Lotte Department Store will host the 'KI ONE Experience-Artistic Gourmet' event at The Pairing in Avenuel, Jamsil, Seoul, until September 25. At Artistic Gourmet, customers can enjoy whiskey, art, and gourmet experiences through various programs such as exhibitions, open days, pairings, and private classes.

During the event, a variety of Giwon whiskeys will be available for tasting and display, along with diverse pairing menus including the 'Giwon Signature Set,' 'Giwon Artistic Gourmet Set,' 'Giwon The Pairing Set,' and 'Giwon The Pairing Course.' In particular, the private class will offer an in-depth experience where participants can converse with staff from the Giwon Whiskey Distillery and learn more about whiskey.