Kavalan Distillery Select Whisky Review

By Michael Cervin

Rating: B

When most think of the many places whisky comes from, there’s rarely any thought of Taiwan. But Kavalan, found a scant 60 kilometers from Taipei in the northern part of the country, launched their first whiskies in the early 2000s and went on to receive several notable awards for those initial offerings. After achieving this global awareness, they set their sights more specifically on America.

Kavalan’s Distillery Select is formulated specifically for an American market, even more specifically not as a sipper, but as a cocktail whiskey, something to blend, which, given that caveat, works quiet well. This is a single malt, double distilled and fermented in stainless steel tanks and is bottled at 43% ABV. According to Taiwanese rules whisky must be aged for a minimum of two years, and though Kavalan does not provide specific information on the aging of this whisky, it certainly presents as having had minimal oak treatment.

The Whisky

Color: Light golden.

Nose: Orange zest, caramel, honeysuckle, spice, dried mango.

Palate: There is a burst of spiciness and burn on the front palate. The second sip calms down the intensity and you begin to dissect the flavors. The obvious are resin, honeysuckle, cigar box, orange, and manuka honey. But as you progress there are deeper elements of charred wood, fresh cracked black pepper, and candied tangerine, even mango, and red delicious apple. To be sure, this is not a smooth entry; it plows its way into your mouth and sets it on fire. If you want a subtle sipping whisky, this is not your choice.

As a cocktail base, for which is was intended, it will hold its own in that it provides complexity of nuanced flavors and other ingredients will mellow out the aggressive entry, providing more intricate elements than other whisky’s.

The Price
After it’s launch in the US market in September 2018, prices have come to vary, but expect to pay between $50-60.