Kavalan – Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength (70cl, 57.1%)

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique is a single cask, cask strength Taiwanese whisky bottled in 2015 at 57.1%, in a 70cl bottle. It is an earlier release, from before 2020. The whisky was fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that had been toasted and recharred. The barrels held both red and white wines, which gives a fruity background to the vanilla from spirit and wood. The colour is deep autumn gold. The nose has vanilla and caramelised sugars with dark chocolate, then ripe melon, mango, kiwi and citrus, with pepper in the background. The palate is clean and complex, leading to a long aftertaste.