Three Societies

What Three Societies does

Three Societies (쓰리소사이어티스), operating commercially as Ki One Whisky Distillery (기원 위스키 증류소), is a South Korean craft distillery founded in June 2020 in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, that produces Korea's first commercial single malt whisky and a premium single malt gin. The company operates from a single facility nestled in the mountains northeast of Seoul, where it applies traditional Scotch single malt production methods—malting, fermentation, distillation, and cask maturation—adapted to Korea's distinct four-season climate, which the company claims drives a unique spirit-wood interaction profile through extreme summer heat and winter cold cycles. The product portfolio is anchored by two brands: Ki One (기원), Korea's first single malt whisky, offered across batched releases (Batches 1-6 exploring Virgin American Oak, Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry, Peated, Port, and Pedro Ximenez cask types), the Society Collection limited editions (Tiger, Unicorn, Eagle), and single-cask products; and Jung One (정원), a premium single malt gin built on the distillery's own malt spirit with 11 botanicals including four Korean-local ingredients (perilla leaves, baby ginseng, Korean sansho pepper, and pine needles), extended into a Barrel Aged and Quarter Cask series.

The business is led by founder Bryan Do (도정한), a Korean American entrepreneur whose prior venture Hand and Malt Brewing Company was acquired by AB InBev in 2018, alongside Master Distiller Andrew Shand (40+ years of industry experience across Glenlivet, Nikka Distillery, Speyside Distillers, and Chivas Group) and Distiller Jun Seo. The team is small (1-10 employees), and the company has built a maturing cask inventory of more than 1,000 barrels from continuous fills since June 2020.

Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on threesocieties.co.kr (supported by nine Korean payment processors) and through distillery tours booked via Naver Booking (domestic), Klook (international tourists), and Bricks Travel. Products are sold in limited releases—Society Collection editions are capped at 1,506-2,020 bottles each—and have earned recognition including Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Batch 1, 2023; Unicorn Edition, 2022), a Silver Medal at SFWSC for Jung One (2021), a Bronze at IWSC for Tiger and Eagle Editions, and inclusion in The Drink Business's "10 World's Most Exciting New Distilleries" (2022). The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Three Societies

Legal name

Three Societies (쓰리소사이어티스)

Website

https://threesocieties.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Three Societies (쓰리소사이어티스), operating as Ki One Whisky Distillery, is a South Korean craft distillery founded in 2020 in Namyangju that produces Korea's first single malt whisky (Ki One) and a premium single malt gin (Jung One) for premium spirits enthusiasts, collectors, and domestic and international tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits / Single Malt Whisky

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft whisky distillery
• Single malt whisky
• Premium gin production
• Cask-aged spirits
• Distillery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Namyangju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Single Malt Whisky Sales: Revenue from production and sale of Ki One single malt whisky products including Batch series (Batches 1-6), Society Collection limited editions (Tiger, Unicorn, Eagle editions), and Single Cask releases.
2. Premium Gin Sales: Revenue from Jung One premium single malt gin and barrel-aged variants including quarter cask series.
3. Distillery Tours: Revenue from guided distillery tours and tasting experiences booked through Naver Booking (domestic), Klook (international), and Bricks travel platforms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Three Societies is a craft distillery that produces single malt whisky (Ki One) and premium single malt gin (Jung One) at Korea's first craft single malt distillery in Namyangju, using traditional Scotch whisky production methods adapted to Korea's four-season climate. It offers a range of batched whisky releases, limited edition Society Collection bottles, single cask releases, and barrel-aged gin variants, alongside distillery tour and tasting experiences booked via Naver, Klook, and Bricks.

Product overview

Three Societies (Three Societies Distillery Co.) operates as Korea's first craft single malt whisky distillery, founded in 2020 in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do. The product portfolio centers on two core brands: Ki One (기원), Korea's first single malt whisky available as a flagship line of batched releases (Batches 1–6, each exploring different cask types: Virgin American Oak, Oloroso Sherry, Port, Pedro Ximenez, and Peated/Smoked variants), and a Limited/Distillery Edition line including single-cask products and the Society Collection (Tiger, Unicorn, Eagle editions). The second core brand is Jung One (정원), a premium single malt gin produced from the distillery's own malt spirit with 11 botanicals (including 4 Korean-local: perilla leaf, baby ginseng, Korean sansho pepper, pine needles), extended into a Barrel Aged line and a Quarter Cask series. The company also offers distillery tours as a service. All products are sold via the company's e-commerce platform with integrated Korean payment processors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ki One (기원): Korea's first single malt whisky brand, featuring expressions like Tiger Edition, Eagle Edition, Unicorn Edition, and various batch releases
• Jung One (정원)

Products and services

• Ki One Tiger (기원 호랑이) Flagship single malt whisky representing South Korea, blended from Oloroso sherry and wine casks. Offers sweet fruitiness with rich oak and Korean oriental spice. 700ml at 46% ABV. Awarded Double Gold at SFWSC.
• Ki One Eagle (기원 독수리) Single malt whisky representing the United States, matured in Kentucky bourbon casks and Missouri new oak. Delivers complex caramel, vanilla, and oak spice notes. 700ml at 43% ABV.
• Ki One Unicorn (기원 유니콘) Peated single malt whisky representing Scotland, inspired by Scottish misty landscapes. Features smoky, earthy flavors with orange peel and oriental spice. Won Gold at SFWSC 2022.
• Ki One Batch 1 — Virgin American Oak First batch of Ki One single malt whisky, fully matured in Virgin American Oak casks. 700ml at 46%. Won Gold at SFWSC 2023.
• Ki One Batch 2 — Virgin American Oak & Bourbon Cask Second batch of Ki One single malt whisky, blended using Virgin American Oak and bourbon casks. 700ml at 40%.
• Ki One Batch 3 — Oloroso Sherry Hogshead Cask Third batch, Three Societies' first Oloroso Sherry cask matured whisky. Matured in European Oloroso Sherry hogshead casks through Korea's four seasons. 700ml at 46% / 56.9% (Cask Strength).
• Ki One Batch 4 — Peated & Smoked Fourth batch, first peated release from Three Societies. Available in two lines: Peated (heavy peat and iodine) and Smoked (lighter, bonfire-like smokiness). 700ml at 46% / 57.4%.
• Ki One Batch 5 — Port Cask Fifth batch, matured in Portuguese Port wine casks (Spanish oak). Delicate sweetness with raspberries, oak, dark chocolate, and Christmas pudding notes. 700ml at 46% / 56.5% (Cask Strength).
• Ki One Batch 6 — Pedro Ximenez (PX) Sixth batch, matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks (sweet sherry). Offers sweet dried fruits, dates, figs, vanilla, and spicy nutmeg finish. 700ml at 46% / 53.5% (Cask Strength).
• Ki One Single Cask #6 (Distillery Edition) First single-cask product from Three Societies. Distilled June 15, 2020, bottled after 3 years in cask #6 (Virgin American Oak). 700ml at 57.8% ABV (Cask Strength).
• Ki One Society Collection — Tiger Edition Limited edition Society Collection release symbolizing South Korea. 200ml at 56.2% Cask Strength. Limited to 1,506 bottles worldwide. Bronze at IWSC 2022.
• Ki One Society Collection — Unicorn Edition Limited edition Society Collection release symbolizing Scotland. New Oak cask. Limited to 2,020 bottles worldwide. Gold at SFWSC 2022.
• Ki One Society Collection — Eagle Edition Limited edition Society Collection release symbolizing the United States. Finished in first-fill bourbon cask. 200ml at 56.6% Cask Strength. Bronze at IWSC 2023.
• Jung One (정원) — Premium Single Malt Gin Premium single malt gin produced at Korea's first craft single malt distillery. Made with the distillery's own malt spirit and 11 botanicals, including 4 Korean botanicals: perilla leaves, baby ginseng, Korean sansho pepper, and pine needles. 700ml at 47%. Silver at SFWSC 2021, Bronze at LSC 2021.
• Jung One Barrel Aged Jung One gin aged for over 1 year in Heaven Hill bourbon oak casks, adding oak-matured complexity to the base gin profile.
• Jung One Barrel Aged Quarter Cask Series — Mocha Stout Quarter Cask Jung One gin further aged in smaller quarter casks (1/4 standard size), increasing oak-liquid interaction. Mocha Stout quarter cask variant. 700ml at 46.5%.
• Ki One Distillery Tour Guided distillery tours at Korea's first craft single malt whisky distillery, located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do. Available via Naver Booking (domestic Korean customers), Klook (international), and Bricks travel platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 for Batch 1
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Naver BookingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNaver Booking integration for domestic Korean tour reservations. Customers can book distillery tours and tasting experiences through the Naver platform, facilitating access to local Korean consumers familiar with Naver services.
• KlookcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational tour booking partnership through Klook platform, enabling global travelers to discover and book Ki One distillery tours. Extends market reach to international tourists visiting Korea.
• Bricks TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel platform partnership for curated distillery tour experiences, targeting specific traveler segments interested in craft beverage tourism.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Penderyn Distillery: Penderyn is the Welsh single malt whisky producer, founded 2000, using a distinctive distillation approach. Comparable to Three Societies as a craft single malt distillery in a non-traditional whisky region building global brand recognition.
• Westland Distillery: Westland is a US craft single malt producer in Seattle, pioneering the American single malt category. Comparable to Three Societies as a craft single malt distillery focused on regional terroir expressions and limited releases.
• Stauning Whisky: Stauning is a Danish craft whisky distillery producing single malt using local ingredients and small-batch methods. Comparable to Three Societies as a craft single malt producer in a non-traditional whisky region building a global reputation.

Direct peers

• Chichibu Distillery: Chichibu is a small Japanese craft single malt producer (founded 2008) built around a master distiller pedigree and limited release strategy. Directly comparable to Three Societies in scale, craft positioning, and international collector following.
• Kavalan Distillery: Kavalan is Taiwan's flagship single malt whisky distillery, also a pioneer in Asian craft single malt. Highly comparable to Three Societies as another non-Japanese Asian craft malt producer leveraging subtropical climate and limited release strategy to compete globally.
• Mackmyra Swedish Whisky: Mackmyra is a Swedish craft single malt distillery, founded 1999, and a pioneer in non-traditional whisky territories. Highly comparable to Three Societies in craft size, distribution model, and international awards trajectory.

Regional players

• Hwayo (Halla Mountain) Distillery: Hwayo is a Korean craft distillery producing traditional soju and aged spirits, based in Korea. Comparable to Three Societies as a domestic Korean craft distillery leveraging Korean character and craftsmanship for premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Suntory Spirits: Suntory is Japan's largest whisky producer and the dominant Asian whisky brand globally (Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu). Relevant as a broad incumbent that defines the premium Asian whisky category Three Societies is competing to join.
• Glenmorangie (Moët Hennessy): Glenmorangie is a global premium single malt brand and former employer of Andrew Shand. Relevant as a broad incumbent that defines the premium single malt reference set Three Societies' products are being benchmarked against in competition.
• Nikka Whisky: Nikka is a major Japanese whisky producer built partly by Master Distiller Andrew Shand's career. Relevant as both a former employer of Three Societies' master distiller and a broad incumbent competitor in Asian single malt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThreeSocietiesDistillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/kionedistillery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/three-societies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Societies