Oloroso Sherry matured single cask whisky from Taiwan, bottled without artificial colouring or chill filtration. Now finally available in Europe, Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask won a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named Best Rest of the World Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards in 2012!
Nose: very rich sherry taste, the fruitiness immediately shocks the system and stands out. Palate: again the sherry takes over, it immediately grabs your attention. As sips go on the fruitiness comes out a little more. Finish: even with the sweetness, it is hard to hide 57.8% alcohol. It can be quite harsh on the throat and leaves a taste which lingers. Overall: It's a nice flavour if you're a big fan of sherry. However, it's an expensive bottle at over £100.
So much so that the taste goes a long way towards a brandy. An impressive dram by itself though. For a better balanced result I'd suggest the ex-bourbon version from the same series.
Tasted both the Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon and Sherry during my last trip to Taiwan. The Sherry is such a beast that rock the whisky world. Having tasted both neat and with a few drops of water, I can assure you that water literally bring the whisky alive. Nose: Very strong sherry influence with lots of fruits, and a bit of dark chocolate at the back. Palate: Mouth drying sherry that virtually bounce on your tongue like flamenco. Quite a lot of fruits and spices. End with some cocoa and nuts. Finish: Very long and gradual diminish. I can see this as a love-it-or-hate-it whisky. Some maybe scared by the strength and aggressiveness of it. But for those who like the Aberlour A'bundah or the GlenDronach Cask Strength, this is something that you must try.
Expensive, but definitely worth it! Fruity, rich and smooth. The Oloroso sherry lingers underneath and makes for a rich, fruity and smooth whisky.
