Single Oloroso Sherry cask matured whisky from Taiwan, bottled at 57.1% with neither chill filtration nor artificial colouring. Top stuff.

This expression from the Taiwanese King Car distillery is the first to carry the name of the King Car Group instead of ‘Kavalan’ as their single malt whiskies have all be known as to date. Created as a well-rounded malt to represent the well-rounded Group, who operate in many industries, it is also bottled at a higher abv of 46%.

Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak Single Malt Taiwanese Whisky 700ml

In ancient times, the land around I-Lan in Taiwan was called Kavalan, a mysterious land that was solely inhabited by the indigenous people of the Kavalan clan. The name was officially recognized by the Emperor of the Chin dynasty in the year of 1809 when the original city was also built under the same name.

For the Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak, the distillery dilutes the Solist Oloroso Sherry with Kavalan spring water to 46% alcoholic strength. The resulting drop is easy to drink and is the perfect single malt whisky to share with friends and family.

This whisky has a deep mahogany colour. A clean and complex flavour profile with multiple layers of nuttiness, dried fruit, and spices with some hints of vanilla and marzipan. A smooth, well-balanced palate with a natural sweetness full of pleasant dried fruits and spices. An elegantly long finish.

Winner of the 2015 World Whisky Awards – Whisky of The Year

In ancient times, the land around I-Lan in Taiwan was called Kavalan, a mysterious land that was solely inhabited by the indigenous people of the Kavalan clan. The name was officially recognized by the Emperor of the Chin dynasty in the year of 1809 when the original city was also built under the same name.

Kavalan had always been kept primitive and protected from the outside world by the Syue-shan mountain range which is abundant in high quality natural water that comes from deep within the mountain range. The mists of Kavalan and the spirits of the past have been created for you in this exquisite whisky.

Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and re-charred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the whisky and wood overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness.

The oak casks are made from American oak that has been seasoned in the open air for at least 24 months. The oak is slow grown that results in a greater release of flavours into the whisky. This reduces the astringent effect of tannins and releases more vanilla spiciness and hints of herbs such as dill and lemon grass. The result is softness and added complexity.

The casks have (deliberately) been used to mature both red and white wines which eventually will contribute the background complex fruitiness to Kavalan Solist Vinho.

After their use for wine maturation the casks are carefully shaved inside then gently toasted over an oak chip fire for a strictly controlled period of time and temperature. This converts wine residues into a complex mixture of fruit flavours including lime, berry fruits and peaches. Then the casks are charred for a short period of time to release lashings of flavours such as vanilla, ice cream and caramelised sugars.

The result is a more complex whisky than is possible than with whisky casks alone!

The pictures are from the actual bottle frond and back,  if you’d like more detailed photos just get in touch!

To mature their Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique expression, the King Car distillers in Taiwan use casks which have held both red and white wines, before being re-toasted. The whisky is fully matured in these casks to help their Taiwanese single malt develop a bold, expressive flavour profile brimming with berry, plum and caramelised sugar notes. At the Los Angeles Wine & Spirits Competition this exciting Taiwanese whisky received a Gold Medal and an impressive score of 91 out of 100.

Distillery Kavalan

Bottler Distillery Bottling

Bottling serie Vinho Barrique Vintage

Bottled 04/11/2019

Cask type Vinho Barrique

Cask number W131218051A

Number bottles 060 – 132

Strength 57.1 %

Vol.Size 1L