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Kavalan Sherry Oak

fruity spicy
4
(3)€78Taiwan, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Kavalan built Taiwan's first whisky distillery in 2005, on the humid plains of Yilan County. The subtropical heat does something Scotland never could. Spirit and oak react fast, and a few years here tastes like decades up north. Oloroso sherry casks pour deep colour and weight into the glass. You get raisins and plum first, then date and dried fruit. Warm cinnamon and nutmeg fold through it. Cherry and orange brighten the middle, while tobacco and old oak settle underneath. It is rich without ever feeling heavy. Pour it neat and let the sherry notes unfold slowly in the glass.

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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 Sherry Oak

Kavalan Sherry Oak is a single malt whisky from the Kavalan distillery in Yilan County, Taiwan. It matures in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. What makes this whisky unusual is the climate. Yilan sits in a hot, humid subtropical zone near Snow Mountain. The angel's share runs at 10 to 15 percent a year. That compares with roughly 2 percent in Scotland. The heat pushes spirit deep into the oak fast. A few years here can taste like decades in a Scottish warehouse. Kavalan was founded in 2005 by the King Car Group. It became Taiwan's first whisky distillery. It set out to prove world-class single malt could come from outside Scotland and Japan. The sherry programme is central to that story. First-fill Oloroso casks give this expression its deep colour and concentrated character. In the glass, Kavalan Sherry Oak is generous and layered. Expect raisins and sultanas, ripe plum, and a wave of dried fruit. Date and apricot add sweetness, while cherry and orange lift the fruity core. Warm spice runs through it, with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a nutty edge. Underneath sit tobacco, old oak, and a faint meaty cereal note. The finish is long, spicy, and woody. Sherry richness holds right to the end. This is a bold, fruit-driven sherry-cask single malt for anyone curious about Taiwanese whisky. Enjoy it neat, at room temperature. Give it a few minutes and the aromas open up beautifully.