Kavalan Classic Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Notes

After so much time spent merely reading about the great single malt whiskies from Taiwan's Kavalan distillery, we can finally get our hands on them here in the states! The first release from Kavalan was their classic single malt expression that uses ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and ex-wine casks of between four and four and a half years of age for the marriage. The first thing that strikes you as you taste it is how un-youthful it is. It might as well be a 12-year-old malt from the Scottish Highlands, but with an incredible supple-fruited character. The malty character, the stone fruits, the accents of vanilla — they're all there, round and supple, but there's something just a bit different going on from the classic Scottish profile. It's the humid conditions of Kavalan's warehouse that allows the maturation to take place much faster, and while you might normally be skeptical of such claims, the proof is in the pudding here. This is real deal whisky from the next big thing.