May 27th, 2011

Review: Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength

John Hansell

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength, 59.2%, €70

Kavalan is Taiwanese whisky from the King Car Company, and the progress its whiskeys are making is truly remarkable. With humidity roughly the same as Speyside — high — but the temperature more than 20° Fahrenheit  higher, maturation is on fast forward. This is just 4 years old, but it’s a monster mix of kumquat liqueur, tropical fruit, blackcurrant, and strawberry and cream candy. Later on some eastern spices, especially turmeric, bring it all back home. Remarkable.     
–Dominic Roskrow

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Taiwan whisky,Writers Tags: 11 Comments

January 29th, 2010

Taiwan whisky: better than Scotch whisky?

John Hansell

That’s what one competition declared. It was published in the Times on Monday, and I’ve been meaning to post something up. Read the full article here.

It was a competition that took place in Edinburgh and included several three year old whiskies, including the new English whisky (from St. Georges), blended scotch, a Bruichladdich whisky, and a Taiwan whisky (Kavalan). There were a list of judges, headed by veteren whisky writer, Charles MacLean. The Taiwan whisky was the winner.

Read the article. Tell us what you think. Was it a fair competition? Was it a misleading competition? Should competitions like this even take place?

Category: competitions,Scotch whisky,Taiwan whisky,Writers Tags: , , 38 Comments



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