Kavalan 2010 6 year Sherry Cask (The Whisky Exchange Exclusive)

When you see "Kavalan" "Cask Strength" and "Sherry Cask" on the same label, you know it's going to be exceptional. This special edition was bottled for "The Whisky Exchange" retailers. The version I had was bottled in 2016 at 57.8% alcohol by volume. The color is truly impressive. Mahogany, a color typically found in whisky textbooks. Very dark reddish liquid. On the nose, the aroma is simply perfect. Coffee, cherries, prunes, figs, and blackberry jam. An overall Cognac impression, smelling of macerated fruits and a hint of hazelnut. You get the picture. The palate is also fantastic. It begins with a macerated fruit flavor, with pepper. Dark and dried fruits; very wine-like with chocolate notes also present. The aftertaste is strong, powerful, but enjoyable and rewarding. Blackberries and pepper. A long, incredible, but straightforward finish. Overall, this is an amazing single malt that I feel very fortunate to have tasted. Everything about it is designed for a whisky lover, starting with its natural color. The aftertaste wasn't as complex as the other aspects, which is why this doesn't get a perfect score, but as they say in football, "it hit the post!" My score is 97 out of 100.

This reminds me quite a bit of the Balcones Single Malt Rum finish, though less artificial. It required a good amount of water to mellow. It has artificial cherry and sherry sweetness. Despite these characteristics, it's not as bad as the Balcones. It's better developed and integrated. It vaguely resembles Aberlour Abunadh, but lacks the genuine sherry and rich cherry notes. 3 stars.