Up to about 18 months ago, Taiwanese whisky was not available in South Africa. On a business trip to London during 2013, John popped into the Whisky Exchange in London. This splendid emporium of whisky is a regular stop when we are in London. John took the opportunity to acquire a few whiskies, including the Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask single malt whisky.
Distilled by the King Car Group, the whisky was named after the Kavalan people. They are seen as the indigenous people of Taiwan. Legend has it that the Kavalan arrived by sea from the East.
When they saw the stunning beauty of the Island, they decided to settle in the bountiful land that later became Taiwan. Who would have thought that a country usually associated with electronics would be able to produce a drinkable whisky?
Solist is German, meaning a musician in a concert who performs a solo piece. The Solist range refers to the fact that this expression is from Kavalan’s single cask releases. The Kavalan range has a musical theme that flows through more releases, such as the ConcertMaster.
The whisky is matured in hand-selected American ex-bourbon casks. It has been awarded the Best Rest of the World Single Malt Whisky 2010 and International Spirits Challenge’s gold medal 2010.
The Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon single malt whisky is bottled at cask strength and is non-chill-filtered.
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Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky Review
I have Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask bottle no 178 of 228 from cask no B080616020.
COUNTRY: Taiwan
ABV: 57.1%
COLOUR: Rich golden yellow.
NOSE: Deep rich sherry with some vanilla and spices. The Solist show hints of caramel sweetness and dried fruit. Adding a few drops of water allows the smoothness to come through.
PALATE: Bourbon sweetness with fresh cherries. There are nuances of dried fruit, toffee balanced perfectly with spices. The Kavalan shows bits of oak and vanilla in the background. A smooth, complex whisky that makes you want to have another glass.
FINISH: Long and lingering and hugely satisfying.
RATING: DIVINE
The first words I captured on my tasting notes for the Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask was “WOW”! Regardless of the high ABV, it is incredibly smooth and amazingly drinkable. You don’t need water; there is no alcohol heat.
The Solist ex-bourbon cask was my Whisky of the Year for 2013! Lately, there has been an influx of releases from this amazing distillery into SA, and I hope to add to my collection soon with a few more bottles. If you buy one bottle of whisky only this year, this is the one to get. It is so worth it.
I have also paired this special dram with some dark chocolate enrobed cherries, and it was a match made in heaven.
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