Erik I was able to find this Kavalan expression today online at a terrific specialty spirit store in Calgary, Alberta and I got it for $269.00. It's the cheapest I was able to find locally and I am having it mailed to where I am in Vancouver. After seeing an older live stream last night where you tried this Kavalan, I really wanted to get a bottle! I am really excited to start exploring this expression. Cheers!!
Really been wanting to try one of these. Just waiting for one to be priced closer to your mentioned prices instead of in the 500usd range ;;; great review!
Just bought a Kavalan solist Px distilled in Feb 2011 and bottled in Oct 2022 so it’s around 11years 8months old. Cost me $420 from where I am from. I am excited to try it yet also afraid I might get disappointed by the quality because single cask quality always varies.
I’m new to Kavalan and Taiwanese whisky but have a Solist tasting in a few weeks that includes this Vinho everyone raves about so cannot wait! I have only had a few hot climate whiskies from India (Amrut & Rampur) and Israel (M&H) but I found them fascinatingly different. How about a video or live stream with hot climate whisky as a topic?
I had an entry level Concertmaster. I found it to be nothing special. I had a sherry solist. It was thick and viscous, but the cask influence was too much for me. I also had a rum cask solist which was sickeningly sweet on the neck pour but it improved a lot past the shoulders. I hope it improves some more. Since Kavalan's dominant casks are so forward, I'd be surprised to get any distillery character at all...
That is the one thing you can criticize about these solist bottles for sure. They are cask-driven to the max, but in their case, I find them so darn good that it doesn't bother me. I have to still try more of their entry level stuff!
There was a 13 and 14 year Virgin Oak release. Love the Kav VB. I paid $230 Cad in Alberta but Alberta is swimming in Kavalan. Lot of provinicial picks from Kavafan and Truth Malters.
Living in Taiwan I am so fortunate to have the range of Solist expressions available for about 100 USD a piece. I'm moving off the island soon and I am of course bring as many bottles as I can carry with me ;) I love them all, but can't stomach a 200 dollar plus price tag haha
I’ve only had the entry level Kavalan whiskey but enjoy it immensely and most of my friends walk away impressed having tried Taiwanese whiskey for the first time. Looking to pick up another reasonably priced bottle, soloist would be nice but I’m realistic 😆
Frankly, cask strength Kavalans just get better and better down the bottle. Airing it extensively typically eases the cask's grip on the distillate and it balances itself so finely well while opening itself up further. It's very hard to know a Kavalan bottle fully until you're at the last dram in my experience.
Very high praise indeed. Great review Erik. Cheers.
Cheers, Al!
My favorite whiskey by far, was very excited when I tried it the first time at their distillery in Taiwan, had to buy a bottle right away.
😍
Erik I was able to find this Kavalan expression today online at a terrific specialty spirit store in Calgary, Alberta and I got it for $269.00. It's the cheapest I was able to find locally and I am having it mailed to where I am in Vancouver. After seeing an older live stream last night where you tried this Kavalan, I really wanted to get a bottle! I am really excited to start exploring this expression. Cheers!!
Wow that’s awesome! I’ll be curious to hear what you think about it. Enjoy!
@@MaltMuserWhisky I will definitely let you know! Cheers Erik!
Really been wanting to try one of these. Just waiting for one to be priced closer to your mentioned prices instead of in the 500usd range ;;;
great review!
500 is outrageous. Where are you located again?
Just bought a Kavalan solist Px distilled in Feb 2011 and bottled in Oct 2022 so it’s around 11years 8months old. Cost me $420 from where I am from. I am excited to try it yet also afraid I might get disappointed by the quality because single cask quality always varies.
Have you got to try it? Incredible age for a kavalan
I’m new to Kavalan and Taiwanese whisky but have a Solist tasting in a few weeks that includes this Vinho everyone raves about so cannot wait! I have only had a few hot climate whiskies from India (Amrut & Rampur) and Israel (M&H) but I found them fascinatingly different. How about a video or live stream with hot climate whisky as a topic?
That is a great idea! I will think through how I could setup a show like that,
I had an entry level Concertmaster. I found it to be nothing special. I had a sherry solist. It was thick and viscous, but the cask influence was too much for me. I also had a rum cask solist which was sickeningly sweet on the neck pour but it improved a lot past the shoulders. I hope it improves some more. Since Kavalan's dominant casks are so forward, I'd be surprised to get any distillery character at all...
That is the one thing you can criticize about these solist bottles for sure. They are cask-driven to the max, but in their case, I find them so darn good that it doesn't bother me. I have to still try more of their entry level stuff!
VB is really worth the money you spend on it. What a great whisky! Not many 5's get handed out! I totally agree!!!
💯
There was a 13 and 14 year Virgin Oak release. Love the Kav VB. I paid $230 Cad in Alberta but Alberta is swimming in Kavalan. Lot of provinicial picks from Kavafan and Truth Malters.
Wow! We never see those virign oak releases here. And rarely a store pick!
Living in Taiwan I am so fortunate to have the range of Solist expressions available for about 100 USD a piece. I'm moving off the island soon and I am of course bring as many bottles as I can carry with me ;) I love them all, but can't stomach a 200 dollar plus price tag haha
I just grabbed one in Hualien for $110 (3500 NTD). So excited to try this one.
I’ve only had the entry level Kavalan whiskey but enjoy it immensely and most of my friends walk away impressed having tried Taiwanese whiskey for the first time. Looking to pick up another reasonably priced bottle, soloist would be nice but I’m realistic 😆
Keep your eyes open for this one. Sometimes it's marked down a little under 200 depending on where you are.
Frankly, cask strength Kavalans just get better and better down the bottle. Airing it extensively typically eases the cask's grip on the distillate and it balances itself so finely well while opening itself up further. It's very hard to know a Kavalan bottle fully until you're at the last dram in my experience.
Really good point and I’ve noticed this effect on others too.
Have to say I was very impressed with the bottle I had of this.
Oh yeah! Stunner for sure!
One of the best drams I have ever had...,
yessir!
Boom!!! Kavalan Vinho!
👍