Kavalan Sherry Oak Single Malt

A real letdown. The smell of this whiskey was incredible. I wondered, "Could this be another perfect score?" However, the taste and finish did not match the scent. This is my third Taiwanese Kavalan, and I'm still underwhelmed, even with the less expensive bottles. It has a gorgeous mahogany hue and was bottled at 46% ABV. The aroma was flawless. Incredibly intricate and intensely sweet. It offered notes of strawberries, red berries, and a strong wine-like character. Sweet sherry, toffee, a subtle sugary sweetness, delightful maraschino cherry liquid, and a hint of wood polish. But then came the taste. It seemed too immature. Flavors of sherry, almonds, charred oak, nutty notes, and brown sugar were present. The finish was extremely brief and brought a significant burning feeling. Not pleasant. It had notes of clove spice, some raw, immature woodiness, and perhaps licorice. Somewhat disagreeable. It simply needs more time to age. I'm rating this pour a 72 out of 100; the nose contributed the most points. Perhaps I'll try aging it further in my own oak barrel to see the outcome.

Nose - Dark cherries lead, with dried currants, bright red dried berries, sweet toasted hazelnuts, a touch of toasted coconut, and cherry cough syrup at the end. Taste - Intense sweet cherry infused dessert wine and white peppercorn spice, lightly dry yet creamy like coconut milk can make your mouth feel. Finish - Long, lingering sweet cherry infused dessert wine with a persistent white peppercorn spicy tingle. Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - Sherry bomb for anyone? The sherry cask finish is a bit too dominant and masks the floral and tropical fruit notes found in their other products. It's quite one-dimensional, almost like a heavily fortified sherry rather than a whisky with a sherry finish. However, what's there is still quite tasty, but it's something I'd likely only want when in the right mood. It might pair very well with a dark chocolate dessert.

This is an excellent offering, genuinely interesting and bringing something new to a familiar flavor profile. It's a Speyside, yet not. The sherry influence is dominant, featuring dried, jammy fruit, nuts, and pepper, alongside marzipan and vanilla. The 46% ABV is handled well, with a very acceptable warmth that carries the flavors and contributes to a lasting finish. It's quite enjoyable. The favorable climate is utilized to produce a potent yet subtly balanced dram quickly. The flavors are robust and distinct. It's not a subtle drink; it makes its presence known immediately and assertively. I appreciate the boldness of this whiskey. I enjoyed its directness. While it's not a Farclas, it's like a loud, somewhat unsophisticated but endearing distant relative.

Excellent whiskey if you're in the mood for sherry notes or general sweetness. It's remarkably smooth for what is likely a young spirit, and it has a stunningly dark mahogany hue. It almost resembles a fortified wine on its own, due to the significant sherry impact. A very potent aroma greets you immediately upon opening the bottle. Naturally, the sherry influence brings forth many flavors of dried cherries, dried cranberries, raisins, and other dried fruits, along with hints of nuttiness, spices, and vanilla. A truly rich flavor profile, definitely a go-to for sherry cask selections.

This is my preferred bottling from this distillery, ranking highly overall. It has an inviting deep honey hue. Delightfully fruity with dark fruit notes, complemented by subtle oak and vanilla undertones. It also carries a sweet baked goods aroma, reminiscent of scones, though I can't pinpoint the exact scent. The texture is wonderfully viscous, leading to a fantastic warming finish full of dark fruit. Absolutely worth the cost, it's certainly a spirit for special moments or a private indulgence by the fire on a cold evening. Well done, distillery!

I had genuinely hoped for something akin to an aged sherry Macallan, though I'm unsure why I held that expectation. Perhaps I thought the tropical climate might accelerate its aging and smooth out any rough edges, similar to an Amrut. However, this is not an Amrut, nor does it approach an aged sherry Macallan. The nose is quite pleasant, with notes of raisins and dried fruit. The taste is also not bad, being quite floral and fruity. But the finish is its downfall. It's evident that it's young and not quite ready. I'm uncertain why Amrut expressions are smoother; perhaps it's the Bangalore climate or the quality of the casks?