Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Cask Strength Single Cask Review
In-Depth Review
Taiwanese whisky is a rare breed. With only a handful of operating distilleries, most drinkers have never had a whisky from the small island nation. But after Taiwan’s long love affair with Scotch whisky, Kavalan opened its doors and released its first expression in 2008. Since then, Kavalan has become to dominate force in Taiwanese whisky – accounting for most of the exported bottles you see around the world. And back in 2015, Kavalan’s Solist Vinho Barrique even won “Best Single Malt in the World” – so they definitely know what they are doing down there. And with wild temperature changes on the island that shorten the time for aging significantly (think Texas), they are able to churn out whiskies at only 5 or 6 years old that can easily stand up to many Scotches that have been aged for 18-20 years.
Known for its densely rich and flavorful whisky, Kalavan has created a large portfolio of special editions and single casks. Today, we are going to jump into their “Solist” line that makes up the upper tier of their offerings. Specifically, this whisky comes from a single Oloroso sherry cask, and clocks in at 55.6% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and has natural color from cask #S170511011C. This is a relatively rare bottle to find, but I picked it up on my last trip to Japan and couldn’t wait to dive in.
Note: you may find this bottle in the US without the “Solist” title due to some copyright issues.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 55.6%
Cask: Oloroso sherry cask
MSRP: $400
Distillery Name: King Car Distillery
Review Date: 1/3/22
Color: Deep Ruby Gold
Nose: The nose starts closed off and tight. But after about 10 minutes, it opens up to red apples, lemongrass, raw leather, and fresh cut wood. Dark chocolate and almonds mix and create a big, sweet character on the nose. There’s also lovely perfume element that mixes with a funky tone that lurks in the background.
Palate: Jumping into the palate, a wallop of Oloroso character hits your tongue like a ton of bricks. Where the nose is a bit tight and closed, the palate is big, enveloping, and full of flavor. Intensely sweet, there are gobs of dark chocolate sauce, cardamon, treacle tart, and ginger spices. The mouthfeel has an oily texture and the heat helps create a lovely spicy raisin quality. The rancio notes are subdued, and ultimately leaves the palate feeling cleaner and crisper compared to other Oloroso casked whiskies. With a splash of water, more pine and toasted oak come through while the spice is reduced.
Finish: Long finish that features spiced fruits and a warming finish. Even in the finish, this remains a sweet and dessert-y experience with more nuttiness and ground coffee as it fades away.
Final Thoughts: This is a boldly, sweet whisky for those who want the most intense Oloroso sherry cask experience possible. It features concentrated flavors that deliver a well-executed Oloroso character. It reminds me of the Amrut Single cask I reviewed a few weeks ago, but with less of the Amrut’s earthy and rancio notes. The Amrut can feel a bit muddy at times while this Kalavan feels like a cleaner interpretation of Oloroso influence. A bit of water opens up the nose but softens the palate, reducing the heat and spice but doesn’t destroy the pour. So if this Kalavan turns up the heat a bit too much for you, inviting a splash of water could be the best course of action. Overall, this Kavalan Oloroso single cask is a delicious, beautiful, complex, and distinctive whisky, one that I can’t quite get enough of. A fantastic start to 2023.
