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Kavalan Distillery Select No.1

woody spicy
3.6
(1)€56Taiwan, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Taiwan built its first whisky distillery in 2005, and Kavalan has been rewriting expectations ever since. The subtropical heat of Yilan County does something unusual to maturing spirit. It draws the whisky deep into the oak fast, coaxing out dried fruit. Orange peel, and warm spice in ways that cooler climates simply cannot match. Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 is where that story starts. It is an accessible. Well-rounded single malt that shows exactly what this corner of Asia can do with a cask and enough heat.

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The Whisky Exchange
The Whisky Exchange
700ml
£55.75 (€67.46)

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About the distillery

Distillery

Kavalan

Kavalan is a distillery located in Taiwan and was founded in 2005. It is named after the Kavalan indigenous people who originally inhabited the Yilan County region where the distillery is located. Kavalan is known for its award-winning single malt whiskies that are produced using locally sourced ingredients and pure water from the nearby Yuanshan Mountain. The distillery has won numerous awards and accolades since its establishment, including "World's Best Single Malt Whisky" at the World Whiskies Awards in 2015 for its Solist Vinho Barrique expression. Kavalan also uses a unique tropical aging process that accelerates the maturation of their whiskies due to the warm and humid climate in Taiwan. Kavalan's portfolio includes a range of expressions that showcase different cask finishes such as sherry, port, and bourbon. Their whiskies are known for their complexity, depth, and unique flavor profiles that are influenced by Taiwan's climate and the distillery's production techniques.

4Average rating

54Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Kavalan Distillery Select No.1

Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 is a single malt whisky from Kavalan. Taiwan's first whisky distillery, founded in 2005 in Yilan County. The subtropical climate here is unlike anywhere else in the whisky world. High ambient temperatures and persistent humidity push maturation into overdrive. Spirit that might take years to develop in Scotland reaches complexity in a fraction of the time. On the nose, Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 offers dried fruit and orange peel alongside a gentle lift of spice. The wood influence is clear from the first sip. Oak threads through the palate, giving structure to the sweeter fruit notes. Spicy warmth builds through the mid-palate and lingers into a clean, woody finish. A faint vanilla sweetness rounds out the back palate. Kavalan has earned over 950 gold medals in international spirits competitions since its first release in 2008. That track record is not built on novelty alone. The distillery combines Scottish-style copper pot stills with the unique terroir of Yilan. Where the surrounding mountains trap moisture and keep temperatures high year-round. The result is a house style built on richness and depth. This whisky rewards patience when served neat at room temperature. Allow it a few minutes to open up in the glass. The spice softens and the fruit becomes more pronounced over time. A small splash of still water can open the mid-palate further. It is a strong introduction to Taiwanese single malt whisky and a reliable window into what Kavalan does best.