Kavalan Solist PX Sherry Single Cask Strength

I'm a significant enthusiast of Kavalan, and these Solist Cask bottlings have been remarkable. Unfortunately, their pricing is quite high, prompting me to purchase this one at $350. After sampling a few ounces, I'm finding it disappointing and quite closed off. I'm hopeful it will open up with more time. The aroma, sampled using a copita despite the high proof, seems to be the result of a poor choice. It presents notes of PX sherry and oak, with hints of leather and chocolate. It's a pleasant aroma, but the alcohol content makes it challenging to discern. Adding water significantly improves it. It now strongly resembles a fine GlenDronach PX cask, even exhibiting a subtle smokiness, likely from the barrel, though it leans heavily towards a very sweet, almost cloying profile. The taste is dominated by chocolate and intense sweetness. The alcohol is a bit too prominent. There's a pleasant 'nugget effect.' Water integration smooths it out, revealing a well-balanced, PX-forward sherry bomb. The oak is certainly present, adding a savory dimension. I'm perplexed by its higher price compared to other casks in this series. It's a well-crafted PX sherry bomb, but it falls short of a truly exceptional score for me. To aid my scoring, I consulted my collection. GlenDronach batches 8 and 15 years old serve as comparisons, both heavily featuring PX sherry. All three are distinct whiskies. The batch 8, which I rated two stars, is surpassed by this. The 15-year-old, perhaps overrated due to its price-to-quality ratio, is still excellent. This Kavalan offers an aged whisky characteristic upfront, with refined oak and a richness suggesting extended maturation, aided by its subtropical climate. The GlenDronach 15 appears youthful initially but delivers an explosive, richer, and more complex finish, providing breadth where depth might be lacking. As a final comparison, I sampled a drop of 18-year-old GlenDronach, a 23-24 year old example. This Kavalan immediately overwhelms these comparisons with its rich upfront flavor, surpassing them significantly. However, its finish is inferior to the 15-year-old and certainly the 18-year-old. The Kavalan's impact is concentrated on the front of the palate, exceptional there, but it doesn't engage other sensory areas like the other drams do. My initial score was 3.0, then I considered 2.75, but after some reflection, I moved to 3.75, now leaning towards 4.0. The intense power and upfront flavor depth are compelling. While the finish isn't as outstanding as the others, it's still very good. My final score is 3.75.

Tasted this at a liquor store. Incredible. The aroma was very rich with raisins, cream, and nuttiness, like a fruit and nut bar. On the palate; fantastic! I've read many reviews describing an explosion of flavor on the palate, and now I understand. It felt like a water balloon bursting in my mouth. Initially juicy and refreshing. Sweet berries, leather, creamy, and then lovely oak right at the end. Truly stunning.

Sweet, raisin-like deliciousness. Possesses heat. A nearly vegetal quality, with a faint hint of licorice root. The warmth is excellent. My recommendation is to forgo water and embrace the heat, as it remains sharp even when diluted.

From cask PX100630019A, bottled on April 30, 2016, after aging for 5 years and 10 months. A deep, dark, and rich pour with notes of chocolate, raisins, tropical fruits, spices, dates, cherries, bananas, coconuts, a touch of coffee, and a nutty, creamy quality.

It really develops after being allowed to breathe. I genuinely believed I might have squandered my money after the first sip. Upon returning to it, numerous flavors emerged that I hadn't perceived before. The PX sherry is prominent.

Aroma of cola, toffee, caramel, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Taste includes burnt oak, brown sugar, and cola. The finish is lengthy, with traces of dried figs, prunes, and cigar box. An amazing whiskey.