Kavalan Solist Virgin Oak Cask Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky

This is the 3rd release of the Truth Malters Chapter Series, yet it is Chapter 1, why? Truth Malters wanted to release something that really captured the beginning, where it all began and to do that what better way to start than with a VIRGIN OAK from Kavalan from their very first year of distillation (2006). This was chosen prior to Chapter 2 & 3 but we waited on bottling this one specific cask until we were confident that it had all the flavors it could possibly have and had a taste that we could proudly use to represent our Chapter Series 1. It just so happened that this extra time maturing pushed the Virgin Oak to over 13 years old, which is the oldest Kavalan bottled. The colour for this or any Virgin Oak is incredible, so dark and rich and the flavours are astounding without any of those “unwanted” notes. This Single Malt Whisky Single Cask Virgin Oak Cask Strength came it at 59.4%, which is the highest Kavalan will bottle. With having tasted and sampled hundreds of Kavalan Single Malt whiskies over the years, we are proud to have this bottle be what begins our Chapter Series, it is a true testament to our slogan, “Purveyors of Exceptional Spirits”, as this is definitely worthy of an EXCEPTIONAL SPIRIT title. It is also the smallest yield of a Virgin Oak at only 77 bottles from the entire cask.

COLOUR - Dark Copper, almost Ruby Red in some light

LEGS - Oily and legs that go on forever, let this one sit and it becomes almost thick enough to chew, it is an absolute oily monster that attaches to the sides of your glass, and takes it time finding its way back to the bottom of the glass.

NOSE - Right out of the bottle you are hit with a Honeycomb, Beeswax Sweetness followed by Vanilla, Apricot, hints of floral, Dark Red Fruit, Raisins, Raspberries, Plums, all as if they were covered with honey on toast.

PALATE - Think Fruits covered in sweet thick honey or syrup, slight notes of chestnuts and cinnamon jump out and then are quickly swallowed up with peach and more fruits. Honey, chestnut, peach skin, dark sweet spice, cinnamon.

FINISH - A complete full flavoured complex yet sweet Virgin Oak bomb. Tons of exotic fruits, guava, with a dark sweet warm spicy finish, that covers your mouth with a honey cocoa and then out of the blue came raspberries which I didn’t catch on the nose at all but were there at the finish. The finish is long and something to be savoured – an amazing all around drink.

AGE - 13 Years + 1 week. Distilled: 2006.08.28. Bottled: 2019.09.06