Heavily sherried cask strength Kavalan Solist! Comes in at 58.6% abv and only around 500 bottles were produced. This was a gift from Keith. Check out his opinion at The Malted Man Cave. / @themaltedmancave9499
I just picked this bottle up on the weekend. I tried this and the Vino Barrique at the Victoria Whisky Festival back in 2015-16 and i was amazed. It's hard to come by here in Victoria but i randomly saw it on the so i pulled the trigger. It's not even listed on the BCL website...
I have this expression that’s 10 years 10 months; you’re spot on about the over aging of these in Taiwan’s climate - this one is like prune and raisin juice when I opened it. Past the neck and 3 months have allowed the complexity to appear more readily and the finish is like berry jam. The cask yielded 284 1 liter bottles.
I’m glad you liked it buddy🙂🤛. I think I prefer the younger Kavalans that avoid that bitter bamboo note that you talked about. The 10 year Kavalan is still incredible...just my personal profile preference. Awesome review as usual!
Truly love this Kavalan edition. In actual fact it is a superlative whisky worthy of true magnificence. Thanks for the great review. Couldn't find the "dusty oak note",no matter how many times I tried it.......... Until it was finished. :-(
I’m impressed with this distillery in regards to the heavy sherried offerings. I have a couple more Kavalan reviews scheduled, I’ll try and better define that note. It’s something I get in King of Kentucky 15 as well. Ever thy that bourbon?
Hi Mike. There is really no need to define those tasting notes. What you find is what you find. Your smell and tasting notes are really very interesting and personal to you. I know that you love the King of Kentucky 15 but it is totally unavailable in South Africa where I am. Your reviews are superb, unpretentious and down to earth unlike so many other reviewers out there.
Well... I have not yet been convinced about Kavalan. A few years back I had a bottle of sherry Solist at great expense and I didn't much like it, but I remember pretending to because of how much it cost. Shortly thereafter, I had a Concertmaster which was good, but at the price of over $150 CAD and at 40% ABV there were so many better alternatives at lower prices...
High abv and quality casks do not justify the high price - 150-200$ for a six years old (young) whisky is too much for me. Still it's a solid review and great chanel of yours sir. All the best!
I get that opinion. I used to feel the same way about Octomore but now I'm a fan. The warner temps age this whisky differently then Scotch but in a similar way to bourbon. They both can get be to oak driven at older ages. I have a few 10 year old Kavalan's and they are walking a fine line in regards to the bitter oak notes... Cheers M.
@@topshelfwhisky Yes indeed, their humid climate is perfect for the faster maturation. But still I prefer the European way - unhurried distillation and slow maturation. Off topic - I kindly suggest you to try some cognac or armagnac. But please be warned - it is another rabbit hole 😎
@@topshelfwhisky Hahahaha good luck with that! Few weeks ago I had an 30yo armagnac (4 or 5 different casks ranging from 1966-1981), and it literally spoke to me 😊 Though, armagnacs, especially old ones (vintage/SC variations), tend to become over-oaked. My suggestion for the start would be L'Encantada or Darroze bottlings. Cheers🥃
This would be right up my street and a sherry lover. I've had the port version and while I liked it, it was a tad too sweet for me. Great review Mike. Cheers.
Have a Kavafan version 9 year bottle from Alberta, liked it more than the 5-6 year. Opened it at a tasting a year or so ago and it was the star, beating out an older Mac CS as well. Have you tried the 13 year virgin oak yet? Cheers
I haven’t tried the 13 but I do have 7 bottles of a 10 year bottled for the Whisky World... your Macallan cask strength comment is spot on, I was tells by my buddies Keith and Dustin the exact same thing. This have taken the missing piece the Mac CS left.
