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    Bourbon/Whiskey Reviews

    Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask

    WesBy WesFebruary 25, 20194 Comments5 Mins Read
    [amazon_link asins=’B07KJD5WWZ,B071YPWMZ6′ template=’MT-product-carousel’ store=’modernthirstc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’32a70bc3-e1d2-4722-af39-9c63a0718515′]

    INTRODUCTION

    Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask– simply put, I love them.  I think I’ve tasted 4 or 5 iterations of the sherry cask so far and have enjoyed each and every one.  In my ModernThirst 2017 Top Whiskies Tasted listing a Kavalan Sherry Cask pick from California was my #1 overall whisky of the year.  That #1 whisky from 2017 was a Southern California Artisanal Group Kavalan Sherry Cask pick and it currently sits at the #12 whiskey, with a 92.5 rating, out of 258 scored in the Proper Pour Whisk(e)y Club– our local group that will reach the five-year anniversary milestone this year.  In the 2018 Top Whiskies Tasted rankings a different Kavalan bottling – this one reviewed below, made the #3 spot overall for the year and the #1 world whisky tasted.  I now have three bottles of the Solist Sherry Cask, and one each of the Vinho Barrique, Port, and Ex-Bourbon cask bottlings.  I’m definitely a Kavalan fan.  So, will Jeremy and I view this new older Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask bottling in a similar manner – we’ll see after a few notes from the distillery.

    THE KAVALAN DISTILLERY BACKGROUND and this SHERRY CASK

    The Kavalan Distillery (as described on their website) was:

    Established in 2005, and itis Taiwan’s first whiskymaker and the nation’s only family-owned whisky distillery.  In March 2006, their first new make left the spout in the spirit safe. Their first whisky, the Kavalan Classic Single Malt was released in December 2008.  The Solist Ex-Bourbon and Sherry Cask bottlings were first introduced in 2009. The following year, in 2010, the Fino Sherry and Vinho Barrique bottlings joined the lineup.  In 2015, the Amontillado Sherry, Manzanilla Sherry, PX Sherry, and Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Solist bottlings were released and the Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength was awarded the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ by the World Whiskies Awards.  In 2016 the Solist Port Cask was introduced and for a second consecutive year a Kavalan bottling – this time the Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength – was awarded the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ by the World Whiskies Awards.

    The bottling we will be tasting today is matured exclusively in oloroso sherry casks.  It is a bit older than the typical bottling which have typically been in the 5-7 year range. The spirit for this effort was placed into the casks on December 17, 2008 and was bottled on March 3, 2017.  The cask number code on the front label S081217018 allows you to determine the barreling date; “S” = sherry, the next six numbers reference the date, and the last three numbers indicate the barrel for that day.  The back of the bottle includes a bottling date code.

    STATS

    KAVALAN SOLIST SHERRY CASK [Cask No. S081217028]

    Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
    Casks: Oloroso Sherry
    Age:  8 years and 2 months (from bottle codes), non-chilled filtered and natural color
    ABV:  59.4% (118.8 proof)
    Producer:  Kavalan Distillery
    Price:  $150-$250 (prices can fluctuate quite a bit – shop around)
    Availability:  available

    SCORING NOTES

    Notes for Jeremy and I are annotated below by the identifiers (JR) or (WJ).

    As always – the notes you see below were written and the bottle scored prior to any discussion by Jeremy and me of what we nosed, tasted, or felt overall, about the dram in consideration.  We have spent time with this whisky on multiple occasions.

    APPEARANCE

    dark cherry cola (WJ); same (JR)

    NOSE

    love it, sherry, raisins, molasses, dark fruit, figs, raspberry-filled dark chocolate – a consistent nose over the bottlings I’ve encountered (WJ); sherry, raisins, figs, prunes, Dr. Pepper cola syrup, some balsamic vinegar, raspberry chocolate, nice malt coming through balanced with sherry (JR)

    PALATE

    nice mouthfeel, dark fruits, raisins, pipe tobacco with a touch of dark cherry, some spice with dark chocolate at the end, a savoriness, does not feel like 59.4% ABV (WJ); wonderful, rich, assertive, oily mouthfeel, tobacco, everything from the nose – plus some on the palate, a bit savory, sweet – but not cloying, picking up something like wood particles from a woodworking shop, not tannic, not bitter, or astringent – a different wood note (JR)

    FINISH

    did not seem as long as some Kavalan Sherry Casks I’ve had, medium-long, with raisins and pouch tobacco lingering (WJ); long, nice heat, very pleasant, tobacco, more of aroma and taste continues here – the sweetness dies out; I want more – very drinkable (JR)

    SYNOPSIS

    KAVALAN SOLIST SHERRY CASK: Now on my fourth bottle of this stuff – have tasted several others – and never but a wonderful experience.  If you like sherry you must try this whisky.  I’ve stocked up (WJ).  Great! Wonderful use of sherry (JR).

    ModernThirst.com Score:  94 (combined); 94 (WJ) and 94 (JR)

    WRAP-UP

    Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask is an outstanding dram and highly recommended.  Of all the world whiskies we’ve rated so far, this one has the highest average to date – that says something about this dram.

    Facebook Comments

    Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask

    94 Outstanding

    After my first bottle, I bought another. After my second bottle (this one), I bought two more. If that is not a testament to this whisky, nothing is. A must try whisky in our opinion.

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    Wes
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    Senior Staff Writer, Wes, was born and raised in Darlington, South Carolina and attended college at the United States Air Force Academy. After flying helicopters for the Air Force and teaching at the Air Force Academy, he retired in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado, after twenty years of military service. He now works in public school education, is married with three children, and leads the monthly Proper Pour Whisk(e)y Club. You can follow him on Twitter @WesModernThirst and e-mail him at Wes@ModernThirst.com.

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    4 Comments

    1. Jeannette Wentzel on February 28, 2019 5:43 am

      My Kavalan collection is also slowly growing. I have ex Bourbon and Vinho Barrique and King Car so perhaps I need to add this release on my shopping list. It sounds amazing.

      Reply
    2. Wes on February 28, 2019 8:58 am

      Thanks for the comment Jeannette. I’d definitely recommend hunting down a bottle of the Sherry Cask to add to the collection. Appreciate you reading – the next series of reviews that I write will be on sherried whiskies. Cheers!

      Reply
    3. Bobby L on October 22, 2022 5:22 pm

      getting a bottle today. so excited 🙂

      Reply
      • Wes on October 22, 2022 5:26 pm

        Let me know your thoughts. Enjoy!

        Reply

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