Kavalan Distillery Select No.1
In 2008, just under 15 years ago, the first bottlings of the Taiwanese distillery appeared and only four years later conquered the world market within a very short time. Rightly so?The Whiskys of the Kavalan distillery mature in a subtropical climate. Unlike European or Scottish Whiskys, an intense flavor can be achieved even in much shorter storage time. In principle, Kavalan Whiskys are delivered without age indication. Presumably, this is usually a maximum of 5 years, rather less.
Tasting Notes
Nose
We smell a fresh, soft and fruity Whisky. Aromas of sweet honey, apple, vanilla and cherry are clearly dominant. Ripe and soft mango is also present and we'd have to lie if we didn't say the stuff clearly reminds us of oatmeal pops. Overall pleasant and not intrusive.
Palate
What the smell promises, the taste keeps. Notes of caramel and honey are accompanied by a slight bitterness at the edge. The fruitiness of the nose is not as intense again here. Sweet spices and grains can be tasted in the background and perhaps a very marginal note of cinnamon. Ripe banana rounds out the picture.
Finish
The finish is medium long. A little dry on the palate, also bitter in the marginal notes. Instead of caramel, we have more brown sugar and a slightly alcoholic undertone.
Thoughts
Marcel 69/100
Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 delivers a whole lot of sweet fruit on the palate, almost like a drinkable oat pop – charming, but a bit too scattered for my taste. For fans of young, exotic Taiwanese whiskies, it’s definitely worth a try if you want to experience something different.
Sascha 69/100
The structure of the Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 still feels unbalanced, with a dominant sweetness and little harmony between fruit and bitterness. Despite the interesting variety of aromas, it lacks depth and clear balance, which somewhat limits the enjoyment.
Value for Money: Fair
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Why do Kavalan whiskies mature faster than Scottish whiskies?
Kavalan whiskies mature in a subtropical climate with high humidity and temperatures significantly higher than in Scotland. These conditions accelerate maturation in the cask, allowing flavors to be extracted more quickly and enabling the whisky to develop complex taste profiles in a shorter time.
How does Taiwan’s subtropical climate influence the flavor of Kavalan Distillery Select No.1?
The subtropical climate leads to more intense interaction with the cask, resulting in fruity and sweet aromas like honey, apple, and mango. At the same time, the faster maturation also produces subtle bitter and spicy notes, giving the whisky a balanced complexity.
Why does Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 not display an age statement on the bottle?
Kavalan usually omits an age statement because maturation in Taiwan happens faster due to the climate, and age alone does not reflect the whisky’s quality or style. These whiskies are typically younger than five years but impress with intense aroma and flavor despite the short aging period.