King Car Conductor Single Malt

Rating: 17/23 Nose: So much old wood here. Very similar to a 15 year old Dickel, which was unexpected. It has a tannic quality with a slight orange peel intensity. Gentle malty richness and sweetness are present but overshadowed by a mild, yet distinct, raw chicken meatiness. Some black pepper spice, with cinnamon and ginger, plus a numbing clove undertone. Possibly a hint of cardamom. This shows more aged bourbon characteristics than anticipated, yet feels simultaneously a bit too aged and too young. Palate: High levels of tannins. Significant wood and spice. Plenty of vanilla. Not the typical tropical fruit notes usually found in Kavalan, though they are there. Pineapple leads, followed by orange, passionfruit, papaya, mango, and banana. I really enjoy those tropical notes and was initially concerned they might be absent. This tastes like Kavalan realized how quickly spirits age in warm climates. It's as if they put whiskey in a bourbon barrel, intending to age it for two decades, then tried it after eight years and thought, "Oh no! We must bottle this immediately!". As mentioned, it's not excessively oaked, but it's certainly at its limit. Rich maltiness and sweet nectar are present, which I appreciate greatly. The oaky tannins seem to be just slightly entering over-oaked territory. Fortunately, the tropical fruit flavors persist. A subtle ethanol presence is noticeable, but it's fitting for the proof. Finish: Dry wood with spices leaning towards bitter and numbing. Faint vanilla notes. I wish I could say tropical fruits were also present, but if anything, they are just echoes. It's not a fantastic finish, but those phantom tropical fruits significantly improve it. - Conclusion - Given the oakiness, Resilient 15 (18/23) comes to mind for comparison. The Resilient is lighter with more minerality, but it also has more apples and decidedly more depth than this. I would choose the Resilient without hesitation. The amount of tannic oakiness is quite similar between the two, but I believe this one is just beginning to surpass its optimal point. I tend to rank Kavalan Distillery Select (Batch 1) (16/23) higher than this. While it clearly hasn't aged as long, it expertly balances its tannins with tropical fruits and malt. This offering is less engaging and, unfortunately, doesn't seem as well-crafted. The difference isn't vast, but I do have a preference. Plus, I can detect some alcohol, which isn't a great sign. Kavalan Concertmaster (16/23) possesses more complexity than this, though it's certainly less full and rich. They represent quite different styles. Nevertheless, I lean towards placing this below the Concertmaster. Or perhaps it does reach a 16 rating. There's a slight apricot note reminiscent of Bushmill's 21. The complexity here eventually emerges, but it's a bit of a challenge. This also appears clearly superior to Kavalan Podium (15/23). Without a doubt. Revisiting for further evaluation, this is more complex and balanced than The Distillery Select. The Distillery Select is brighter and more approachable, but this is more mature and refined once the slightly excessive oakiness calms down. However, the margin of victory isn't large. It's interesting how comparing this to the Distillery Select and the Concertmaster highlights their distinct styles, showcasing the strengths of each. I spent some time believing this would be a 15 or 16, but after all this direct comparison, I now think it's closer to a 16 or 17. I'm leaning towards ranking it above the Concertmaster and Distillery Select due to its surprising nuance combined with richness and maturity. It still contends with some flaws, and Resilient 15 still seems definitively better to me, but this is superior to my initial assessment. While I'm somewhat tempted to award this a 17, I believe a 16 is the most sensible score. If I had to order the three Kavalans I've rated 16s for, from best to worst, it would be this, then the Distillery Select, then the Concertmaster. Regardless of the specifics, the Resilient is undoubtedly superior. A final tasting round places this much closer to the Kavalans than to the Resilient. I can still envision a 17 for this, but it's less probable than a 16. Yes, in a final sipping session, I'm no longer certain this surpasses the other Kavalans (except the Podium). Alright, one last comparison. This is more complex than the Distillery Select, but it also has less pronounced tropical character. It still seems like it was narrowly saved from the barrel just in time, but I've concluded that it was indeed saved appropriately. This isn't quite on the same level as ThatBoutique-y Whisky Company's Auchroisk 19 (18/23), but it's not significantly behind. I believe I'll raise this to a 17. The Resilient still clearly beats this.

My introduction to Taiwanese whisky was Kavalan Single Malt, and I found it quite pleasing. It presented like a more tropical-flavored Japanese whisky. This King Car expression is pricier and, judging by its color, appears to have a more significant Sherry oak influence. Let's investigate. Nose: Honey, toffee, vanilla, and caramel. Honeydew, pineapple, apple, pear, and coconut. A hint of lime and orange. Some green apple Jolly Rancher candy. Apricot can be detected faintly. A touch of black pepper is balanced by some oak. Palate: A bit fiery on the palate. Blackberry, black currant, cranberry, pound cake, raisin, date, and fig. Citrus from orange and lime. Pineapple, apple, and pear. Macadamia, cashew, and chestnut. Caramel, toffee, honey, and vanilla. Black pepper, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Pineapple, apple, pear. Cranberry, raisin, pound cake. Apricot, orange, Vanilla, caramel, toffee. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. The finish lasts a moderate-long time, favoring the latter notes. This tastes like the Kavalan Single Malt but with a stronger Sherry character. It retains the tropical notes as well. It's a little intense for a 46% ABV spirit, but the flavor profile is very robust. I acquired this for $90 on sale, although I know it typically costs more. That's expensive for a non-age-stated whisky and definitely impacts the rating. I'll rate this a 3.75, a quarter of a star lower than the Single Malt. So far, Kavalan is doing a commendable job representing Taiwanese whisky.

I was unsure about this one. I assumed a Kavalan would be good, but I also thought that if it were excellent, it would be named Kavalan, not King Car (the company behind Kavalan). These feelings were confirmed on the nose and palate. It has a tawny color and is bottled at 46% ABV. The aroma is incredible and really engaging. It has many notes that improve over time. Orange peel, candy, artificial citrus, and sugar are present. Coffee and tangerine appear, and after a couple of minutes, it opens up to chocolate milk and coffee. Floral notes and caramel also emerge. It has everything. A perfect score... BUT.... The palate is harsh, with tobacco bitterness, bitter chocolate, and some oaky notes. The spiciness feels like sulfur, similar to red chili peppers. It's a harsh spirit, with almonds and predominantly bitterness. The finish is very short, with spicy oak notes and chili pepper. It's not pleasant. Overall, the aroma was outstanding, but I don't feel the same about the rest. My score is 62 out of 100. It certainly feels like it should be more and it's not a bad drink, just not what was anticipated.

You encounter someone else alive and team up. That is, until you discover they have a bottle of this with them for the end of the world. Smells of sweet fruit and vanilla, with notes of light oak, vanilla, prunes, and one more taste I couldn't identify. It’s not super intricate, but it goes down smooth. Dangerously easy to consume. The scheme is to grab their ammunition and this bottle, then ditch them while they're asleep. I know, it’s a dirty move. But it’ll pay off.

Third Kavalan. I gave Podium a 3.75. This has a wonderful candied orange, banana, and honey-like aroma. On the palate, it's a thick drop. You detect a slight bitterness or sourness along with oakiness, but the balance isn't too compromised by the honey and caramel flavors. However, the more I drink, the more prominent it becomes. Shortish aftertaste. This one is tough, it hovers between a 3.5 and 3.75, I think.

This is too expensive, but I must admit it's a good whiskey, featuring some notes not typically found in Old World single malts. The nose presents aromatic cedar and sandalwood incense, along with tropical fruits and some herbal and woody notes. The palate is fruitier, with those tropical notes mingling with coconut and dried fruit, and a hint of green grassiness. Interesting, complex, and distinctive.