[55.6%・NAS・Bottled Circa. 2015-2016・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release]
The Kavalan Solist Moscatel is one of the four new Solist releases Australia is getting this year. Along with the fino, it’s a series dedicated to the horizontal juxtaposition of various sherry strains. The last time I have come across a project similar to this was the Tomatin cuatro series but those were only cask finishes.
Kavalan benefits from being in the warmer climate, resulting in escalated maturation for their whiskies. Time is not one of their main considerations when investing in a project like this, a direction old world distilleries would have been hesitant to pursue in the past.
Nose:
The nose opens with an elegant dried ginger note. There is a hint of menthol but the main emphasis is on the charred wood note. It’s spicy, and it exhibits some dried fruit sweetness and acidity.
Palate & Finish:
Sweet fruits drenched in brown sugar in the palate. The fruits gravitate towards the acidic side with a salty and oily mouthfeel. The spices follow through with a menthol burn.
The fruitiness grows more youthful and appealing in the finish. It’s a dram that awards patience.
☆ [Recommended]
–Nicholas
WhiskNick 