Bradford Withers
2.8
Whisky aging requires patience. While smaller barrels and warmer environments can speed things up somewhat, there are clear boundaries. This Kavalan Solist's aroma displays good sherry cask influence, yet it still comes across as quite fiery and spirited. Adding a little water calms it down, bringing out notes of dried plums, aged balsamic, and mint chocolate thins. The taste... it's just too intense. Woody and spirit-forward simultaneously, a surge of bitter citrus, seltzer, and potent botanical notes leads to a moderately long conclusion with 90% dark chocolate characteristics. It's far too unbalanced for a solo performer. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-
