Kavalan Distillery Select No. 1

Rating: 16/23 This is batch 1. Kavalan is offering a malt whisky in the $40-$50 price range that they suggest for cocktails? This is completely baffling. I'm approaching this with caution because while I've appreciated Kavalan's past products, a cocktail designation makes me think they might be attempting to mask significant flaws. Nose: Very tropical. The first impression is actually a touch of hogo. There's a dryness with a woody scent that gradually gains depth, moving from mild charcoal to wood that isn't quite green, adding a bit of leather, and then revealing some vanilla. This is all in addition to the prominent tropical fruitiness. I detect pineapple with mango, banana, papaya, and orange (or perhaps tangerine?). At times, there's also a faint papery mustiness. The alcohol is not at all apparent here. It's an excellent nose. Palate: That dryness with wood and a musty aroma hits first. The charcoal and leather notes are absent. There are some pleasant spices in an intriguing mix: cinnamon, white pepper, and ginger. However, none of the spices are particularly strong. And, of course, there are the tropical fruits: pineapple, orange, apricot, papaya, mango, and possibly a hint of banana. There's a lot happening here, but it also possesses plenty of youthful vigor (in a positive way). There are no discernible youthful flaws, and the dryness and papery mustiness contribute a sense of maturity. The complexity is quite good, and the balance is bold yet precise. Finish: Dry, tart paperiness with subtle fruit that has turned slightly bitter. A faint malty sweetness, perhaps. Honestly, this is the most disappointing aspect because it becomes muddled and disappears rather quickly. - Conclusion - Well, I'll be damned: this is a rather enjoyable sipper. Seriously, why would they recommend this for a cocktail? When compared directly with the Kavalan Concertmaster, I now find the Concertmaster to be thin and somewhat uninteresting. Especially considering the price difference, this one is an obvious choice (although I've heard that batch 2 was more spice-focused and not as good, which is odd that consistency wouldn't be maintained for something supposedly meant for cocktails). At $40, this is a great purchase. At $50, I certainly wouldn't regret buying it. At $60, it's a bit too expensive, and $70 is a pass. The intriguing tropical flavor is definitely worth trying. For anyone seeking to add a single bottle of malt whisky with that Southeast Asian tropical taste to their collection, this is the one I'd suggest. In fact, I recently gave a bottle as a gift because it was reasonably priced, approachable, and a good dram overall. So, in terms of rating, this is at least a 16. It doesn't quite have the same intensity as Westward, and there's a slight bitterness in comparison, but they are remarkably close in quality. It also holds up well against Loch Lomond 12 (16/23), although the Loch Lomond is a bit fuller. This has a slightly lower ABV than the other two, so I'm not surprised it's not quite as robust. It also struggles to keep pace with Amrut Peated (16/23), though it's a close contest. Huh, perhaps a 15 would be justifiable. Well, I've rated this as 'at least a 16, but possibly a 15', so I believe a 16 is appropriate.

Nose: Smells like Honey Nut Cheerios with sliced green apples coated in lemon juice. A subtle oak presence is noticeable, along with fresh thyme. Hints of pineapple and a perfumy potpourri. Overall, it's quite bright and fresh, though not unpleasant. Palate: The honeyed malt character is evident, complemented by herbal and vegetal notes. Vanilla and honey are present. Lightly roasted nuts and oak. Dark chocolate and perhaps a trace of dusty leather. A hint of varnish. The citrus remains, but it's sweeter and less vibrant. Buttermilk notes appear. Tannins are primarily in the texture, with some bitterness. It's very top-heavy, lacking depth, with most of the flavor on the front and mid-palate. The mouthfeel is light. Finish: A strong wave of thyme, lemon, and bell peppers. Oak and waxy nuts emerge, followed by a distinct hit of black pepper. It now reminds me of lemon pepper, with a subtle mint that fades out. The length is medium-short. Additional Comments: This resembles a lighter, brighter Highland whiskey. The characteristics present in this glass are clearly influenced by a palate quite different from my own. It offers a unique profile that, while familiar as a whiskey, is distinct and enjoyable. Though marketed for mixing, it stands well on its own. I could imagine this being excellent on a warm summer evening in a sour or with soda water, or simply neat. If this is intended for the mixing audience, I have high hopes for their other products. It's not a staple I'd necessarily keep at home, but I can certainly recommend it to someone looking for something a little different. Cheers!

The aroma begins with a blend of slightly tart tropical fruits, roasted bell peppers, and mild black pepper spice, followed by high-percentage dark chocolate and toasted walnuts, then mandarin orange, sour cherries, and pears, transitioning to anise, cloves, and leather with a slight ethanol burn. The taste has a thin consistency, starting with a mild bitter spice that quickly fades to toasted marshmallow, dark chocolate mocha, and walnuts, followed by dried mango, bananas foster, and grilled pineapple rings, transitioning to cloves, ginger, anise, and a mild black pepper spice with low ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length with a fruit smoothie of mango, banana, orange, and pineapple, along with light spices of anise, cloves, and a mild black pepper spice. I am pleasantly surprised that for a spirit marketed for making cocktails, this is quite enjoyable neat, with a balance of tropical fruits, light vegetable notes, and mild spices. The aroma has a mild youthful tartness that doesn't carry over to the taste, which is on the thinner side and starts slightly bitter but quickly fades, allowing the tropical fruits, nuts, and spices to come through before a fantastic creamy tropical fruit and light spiced conclusion. At $40, this is a rare bargain in today's spirits market that I believe most people would truly enjoy and is a great start to my brief exploration of this distillery's offerings. Thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

Perhaps traveling changes one's outlook and direction on... everything. I'm not trying to be overly descriptive, but if I hadn't been in Taiwan and felt curious about local distilling wherever I travel, I might not have discovered this brand. It's genuinely an immediate favorite. I wish this could be a fragrance. Words come to mind that I don't believe I've used in a tasting: earthy, mineral, reminiscent of grain-based teas (like those used as a coffee substitute). Exceptionally easy to drink, likely due to its low alcohol content, but it truly stands out on the nose and palate. The local population seems to overlook this one in favor of well-known imported spirits. In this instance, the praise is deserved, and I trust the global community of supporters and sincere single malt enthusiasts. I highly recommend you try this at any price, ideally on an evening when you are open to something new yet familiar. I look forward to other cask variations in their future releases.

The color is a deep caramel (entirely natural). The aroma is both sweet and sharp, featuring caramel, anise, plums, pineapple, and a touch of pepper. In the background, there's a subtle rubber note that gradually diminishes but remains present. On the palate, the fruity notes intensify, enveloped in caramel, with the addition of milk chocolate and a distinct saline quality. The flavors are somewhat fleeting, appearing and disappearing in the mouth without much body, quickly giving way to the alcohol and the rubbery scent detected initially. The finish is moderately short, with fruit and saltiness and a hint of spice.

I'm really into Indian single malts, so I decided to try this one. The nose has candied fruits with soy sauce and light oak. The palate delivers good, rich malt and tropical fruit with a hint of grandma's chop suey. Barrel tannins appear at the end along with some cool menthol. The finish lingers with salty, fruity notes blending into dry bamboo and a mild char. It's unique and tasty; I'm enjoying it, but it's not as good as the Indian malts. It's definitely worth checking out if you're adventurous... 82/100... This was an introductory level; I'm curious how much better the higher-end options are.