Kavalan Solist Amontillado Single Cask Strength

For reference, this sample came from single cask AM100623018A that was bottled at 55.6%. The nose is bold and dense with a syrupy richness that starts with dark chocolate, tart blueberries and antique polished furniture then toasted walnuts and freshly lit pipe tobacco followed by musty grapes, caramelized peaches and orange blossom that transitions to anise, cardamom, saffron and vintage leather with high ethanol burn. The taste is a rich and syrupy mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate sour spice that slowly fades to fresh lit tobacco and toasted walnuts then dark chocolate covered tart blueberries and antique polished furniture followed by prunes, caramelized peaches and charred orange peel that transitions to anise, cardamom, saffron and mildly bitter black tea with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with creamy tropical fruits, dark chocolate covered raisins, toasted walnuts, anise, cardamom, saffron, dusty leather-bound books and polished antique furniture. Gosh, I’m not sure how Kavalan does it but all the flavors are rich and intense with a nose that pulls you in with dark chocolate, tart fruits and old oak leading before toasted nuts and a light earthy smoke that fades to tart but sweet fruits and unique spices that carries over to the palate with the addition of creamy tropical fruits that has a moderate bitterness that eventually fades to those tart and sweet fruits found on the nose before finishing long with a mix of sweet and tart fruits, chocolate, unique spices and old oak that lingers and reveals notes slowly over the course of minutes after each sip. This is another exceptional release by Kavalan that the flavors are all dialed up to an 11 but for me it falls short of the level that the Moscatel reached due to a higher spice and the fruits having a moderate tartness that I don’t recall finding in the Moscatel. Kavalan’s Solist line is expensive but if you can find a pour or bottle at a justifiable price, I’d highly recommend anyone to try them as there really isn’t anything out there that can match the syrupy dense flavors that these single barrels produce.

This came from one of those elaborate 950mL decanter bottles from the distillery purchased in September of 2019. Amontillado Cask AM110216002B Nose - Hints of sweet soy, dark chocolate, leather, wet sherry cask, wet oak (w/ water) Mutes the nose a lot, much less pronounced, but feels like mostly the same Taste - Quite hot, dark chocolate, prunes, dark raisins, sweet soy sauce, hoisin sauce (w/ water) More dark chocolate, raisins, prunes, hoisin sauce Finish - Lingering heat, hoisin sauce, raisins, prunes, chocolate, leather (w/ water) Less heat, hoisin sauce, ginger, cocoa powder Score - 83/100 Final Thoughts - It's been a while since I've had an amontillado finished whisky, but for some reason this doesn't really scream amontillado to me. This feels like it was a very wet sherry cask, almost oloroso/px levels of dark, but maybe that's just the Taiwan climate doing its thing on barrels. It had a very dark sweet vibe, but wasn't overly sweet like a oloroso or px might be. Once I noticed the similarities to hoisin sauce though, that's all I could really taste. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Nose: Rich and sweet. Orange candy, milk chocolate, figs. Palate: Rich and slightly sweet. Bright citrus notes open to darker flavors: mushroom, soy sauce, figs, dried fruits, malt, and dark chocolate. Not super sweet compared to some sherry-finished whiskies, which makes sense given amontillado sherry is typically less sweet than, say, PX sherry. I found that the lack of sweetness is not a detriment, but serves to pronounce the darker, earthier flavors. I also found this had a bit more depth and complexity compared to other sherry bombs which tend to be a bit heavier on the dried fruit/raisin-y note. Texture is thinner than expected, but very easy to swish and coat the flavors around. Finish: Dried fruits (raisin), earthy, savory. Very easy to drink despite a relatively high proof and the complexity is obvious from the first sip. Excellent. I wish the texture was a bit thicker. I think it is worth the price I got the bottle at, but I see it often for double or triple which I would be more hesitant about.

Nose: Amazing with orange marmalade, biscotti, marzipan, spicy honey, raisins and amaretto. Palate: Potent, viscous, coating and semisweet with some heat, spicy honey, orange marmalade, raisins, brown sugar, just a tinge of bitterness, a little amaretto nuttiness and light baking spices. Finish: Lengthy, all the notes are there and coating the full mouth, smoldering and spicy.

Sampled this along with Kavalan’s other top shelf offerings during a Distillery tour. Stand out favorite. Nose is nutty and toffee with a hint of oak, the arrival delivers all of that plus caramels and spice. Finish is the arrival which slowly tapers into a soft nutty aftertaste. 93/100

The most complex thing I’ve ever tasted. An out of body experience as layers of black pepper, freshly baked bread and vanilla gave way to oak, cinnamon, and toasted hazelnut. The hazelnut became more pronounced as it sat and was joined by raisin flavors characteristic of sherry.