Kavalan Solist Fino Single Cask Strength

57.8% ABV Cask # F1100707013B Bottle # 051/562 Smell - (undiluted) Deep oaky apple/pear juice, faint golden raisins & prunes, dark burnt sugar (diluted) Strangely more alcohol, spicy fruit, golden raisins, oak, astringent scent Taste - (undiluted) Initially quite intense, sweet tropical fruit, Tahitian vanilla, spicy fruity heat, very drying, mildly bitter/nutty sweet fruit (diluted) The burn is nearly gone, sweet floral fruit, faint bitter apple stems/seeds, golden raisins, less dry Finish - (undiluted) Heat subsides, strangely bitter, fruity dryness, walnut skin nuttiness/bitterness (diluted) Less dry, lingering sweet apple/pear/golden raisins, slightly medicinal Rating - 65/100 Final Thoughts - I'm uncertain if I received a subpar Fino cask or experienced something else, but this was quite disappointing. It was a challenge to discern any specific notes from the aroma beyond a general 'sweet' and oak. The taste wasn't terrible, but it felt very unbalanced with or without added water. This intensely drying sensation persisted throughout, making the overall experience somewhat unpleasant. The unusual bitterness wasn't enjoyable, and adding water gave it a somewhat medicinal taste. Hopefully, I just got a bad batch? Would I consume it if offered? - Yes Would I deliberately order it? - Perhaps, just to verify if I received a flawed batch Would I purchase a bottle? - Not another

Astonishing. Truly remarkable. A spirit that merits a perfect score. Bottled at 57.8% ABV, this Taiwanese treasure is exceptional. I've never encountered a spirit matured in fino casks before (fino is a type of dry sherry). Color: Chestnut brown. Nose: An explosion of orange. Red fruits, cinnamon, cherries, tobacco, oranges, coffee, vanilla cookie dough, and lemon. It has a winey and sherried character. Toffee. So much complexity. Palate: It is potent due to the alcohol content, but also incredibly delicious. It's a dry spirit with sherry notes, chocolate, oranges, toffee, dulce de leche, and apricots. Finish: Amazing aftertaste. An intense spice bomb. Wasabi, salt, and pineapple core. It leaves the mouth tingling. Overall, this is an outstanding spirit. I highly recommend it. Seek it out. 100/100.

The aroma is rich with marzipan and charred oak. The flavor is intricate and layered, featuring sweet cherries, vanilla, currant, and cinnamon. However, the finish is its highlight. It's like a blast in your mouth as dryness emerges, followed by repeating waves of flavor, each more vivid than the last. A lengthy, powerful, and complex finish that truly astounds the palate. It's intense, as all bottles from this distillery are, but also more intricate than most. I'm really enjoying this bottle.

Cask S060814024. The aroma and flavor are intricate. The flavors keep changing as it sits in the glass and as the bottle is consumed. It benefits from a little water.

Barrel FI100707024A. Aged five years. Amazing. Packed with flavor: chocolate, coconut, mango, and kiwi.

Very strong, prominent vanilla and sherry. Rather good, though quite diluted initially but intensely potent before that.