Kavalan Solist Moscatel Single Cask Strength

This bottling is cask number MO100625015A. I possess bottles 398 and 399 from a total of 499. It is 55.6% ABV. Around the start of the COVID pandemic, for $800, I had to choose between two of these elaborately decorated 10-pound wooden boxes holding premium Kavalan whisky, or a pair of 10-pound dumbbells for my home gym. I opted for the whisky. This Kavalan Single Cask Strength Moscatel Sherry Cask delivers what is simply the finest sherried whisky I've encountered recently. I haven't been this impressed by a sherry-forward expression since the initial releases of Aberlour A’bunadh roughly a decade ago. Picture the intricacy of a Glendronach 18 combined with the purity of an older Macallan 18, but bottled at 55.6%. I strongly advise against drinking this neat initially. It's excessively rich. Its sweetness borders on bitterness. It's so heavily sherried that it resembles vodka-soaked prunes. It's almost unrecognizable as whisky. The closest spirit in my collection to this whisky when served neat is, in my opinion, a rum: Diplomatico Ambassador, a rum aged in PX sherry, intensely sherry-forward. Diluting it to 45-50% makes it more accessible and appealing. It still features prunes, along with raisins, dates, and grapes. However, with water, the sweetness is reduced to a manageable level, allowing the malt to be tasted, confirming it might indeed be a single malt whisky. But after tasting it with water, I suggest revisiting it neat. With your palate now accustomed, you might be ready to appreciate this absolute fucking sherry syrup extract. There's no sulfur; there's no sudden woody harshness often found in contemporary "sherry seasoned" attempts. How did Kavalan manage to acquire these casks for their single cask expressions? It's astonishing to still encounter sherried whisky like this. You can disregard the Kavalan Vinho, by the way; it costs half as much but isn't nearly as good. If you're considering spending $250 on quality whisky, you might as well spend $500 on the pinnacle of a particular flavor profile. Score: *** (I am not worthy) Bottle cost: $400-600 My assessed worth: $600

Concluding my Kavalan series with this Kavalan Solist Moscatel single cask, generously shared by a friend, at 57.10% ABV. The nose is robust and dense, with a syrupy richness beginning with notes of prunes, roasted salted pistachios, and aged leather, followed by cacao nibs and freshly lit pipe tobacco, then white grape juice, orange blossom, and nectarines, transitioning to anise, cardamom, saffron, and black tea leaves, with a noticeable ethanol burn. The taste presents a rich, syrupy mouthfeel, starting with creamy tropical fruits and caramelized figs, before a mild pepper spice that quickly fades to dusty leather-bound books and freshly lit pipe tobacco, then prunes dusted with cocoa powder, sautéed peaches in brown sugar, and white grapes, transitioning to anise, cardamom, saffron, cloves, and mildly bitter black tea, with a strong ethanol burn. The finish is lengthy, featuring caramelized figs, freshly lit pipe tobacco, mild black pepper spice, cardamom, anise, and dusty leather books, lingering for several minutes. This is an exceptional whisky; the flavors are dense and rich, with sherry notes being dominant but balanced by aged oak, tropical fruits, citrus, and unique spices. The only significant drawback is a mild bitterness in the taste and finish that detracts from the rich fruity flavors, preventing a perfect score. At approximately $400, this is a costly acquisition, but it's a high-quality product offering some of the densest and richest flavors I've ever encountered in a spirit.

I thought I was finished, but I really just wanted to drink some sherry-finished whisky, and I haven't reviewed this one yet. First off, apologies for the price I paid; it was on sale for half off. Nose - I detect a smoky, barrel-roasted barley note, which I get in many malts aged in very hot climates. Then I get some very sweet, fruity sherry. I taste berries, figs, raisins, toffee, and chocolate and honey. I could smell this all night long. I might even smell it for an hour and leave the glass out overnight to revisit it. Taste - It's figs, roasted barley, buttery chocolate batter. After adding 2 drops of water, the chocolate and smooth creamy notes emerge. So many dark fruits here. It's raisins, figs, and this high-heat barley sweetness is amazing. This is a bottle I'll be sad to see gone because I doubt I'll ever get another, or at least I won't see one available for purchase. 4.75 out of 5 stars. This is truly special. I had this recently alongside the Vinho Barrique, which won awards, and a friend and I both firmly believed we were drinking a bottle worth $100 more. While this retails for more, let's disregard prices. It was THAT much superior to the award-winning Vinho Barrique. This is why I drink whisky.

This was a clear standout during our tasting at Kavalan. The nose offered sweet figs, raisins, cherry cordials, and toffee, with an unexpected dusty vintage bookshelf note in the background. This non-age-statement Taiwanese whisky possesses a characteristic I've previously encountered in a 21-year-old Glendronach. The arrival is smooth, with a rounded sweetness that suggests a remarkable Moscatel Sherry cask influence. The finish was leisurely, sweet, and warm. Outstanding!

Cask MO110321007A, aged 8 Years and 6 Months. Very rich, dense, and floral. Nose: Plums, Fig Jam, Honey, Violets, Dark Chocolate Brownies, Christmas Cakes, Marzipan Palate: Raisins, Mangoes, Honey, Fig Jam, Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Strawberries, Cotton Candy, Grapefruits, Prunes, Ginger, Christmas Cakes Finish: Toffee, Prunes, Mocha, Dark Chocolate, Honey, Salted Butterscotch, Watermelons, Mocha, Gingerbread

Barrel Number MO110321017A, 57.1% ABV. Neat: Thick, syrupy, rich, intense, with notes of figs and nuts. With a teaspoon of water: The aroma and viscous, oily, rich palate, along with a long finish, reveal notes of molasses, honey, baking spices, nuts, figs, prunes, licorice, graham crackers, cherries, apricot, sultanas, malt, vanilla, and caramel.