Kavalan Solist Ex-Sherry Cask Strength

Kavalan is single malt from Taiwan made by King Car Kavalan distillery. King Car is a large Taiwanese group established in 1956. It has several business fields under its name. They’ve started whisky making in 2008 and have built quite rapidly grown reputation as quality brand. Their reputation unfortunately shows in prices and availability.

Solist means “Soloist” in German, referring to the fact that this whisky comes from a single Oloroso sherry cask. Solist Ex-Sherry is also cask strength release (bottled at natural strength) and somewhere around only 3 years old because whisky matures very fast in Taiwanese climate.

So young age won’t be showing that much in Kavalan Solist expressions. To my knowledge Soloists are well praised, so they’ve aged well.

Kavalan Solist Ex-Sherry Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Great whisky but has more potential

My experiences with Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon were so good that I was really looking forward to have a sip at this sherry version. As expected, Solist CS Ex-Sherry turned out to be a good whisky, but it couldn’t fall for the spectacular category.

Of course we must keep in mind that I sampled this one in a whisky festival. So I couldn’t give it enough time or water to open up, resting in the whisky glass.

Matured in:

Ex-Sherry Oloroso cask

ABV: 57.8%

Colour: Dark mahogany

Non-chill filtered, no added colour

Nose: Sherry and oak tannins hit you full steam! Thick with dark fruit and sherry notes. Leather and nutmeg.

Taste: Nutty and sherried vanilla sweetness. Dark fruits, spices and cocoa in a thick body.

Finish: Instant dryness. Crispy sweet with grapefruits and sherry. But the sherry is not as strong as in the taste and aromas.

Balance: Started with amazing aromas and nice palate but towards the finish started to loose its intensity and fullness. Quality whisky but not in best balance, expectations were bit higher.