Ultra-Rare Manzanilla Cask from the Iconic Kavalan at Almost 60% Off – K&L Whisky News
Incredibly Rare Collectible Treasure at Best Pricing
Kavalan “Solist” Manzanilla Sherry Cask Strength 58.6% ABV Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
(Previously $600) ($249.99)
“This manzanilla cask is so rare and unusual that I really have little frame of reference…”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
At the cornerstone of this coveted whiskey line, the sherry-aged casks present the quintessential Kavalan poise and grace that has won this iconic distillery its countless accolades and awards over the years, including the 2021 Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as a near-maniacal following among the most committed collectors. We’ve some truly astounding single-cask treasures come through our doors recently, but this one is easily among the rarest Kavalan barrels we’ve ever gotten our hands on. It’s also one of the most singularly distinctive profiles in our entire inventory. “An absolutely unique and incredibly inviting style,” as described by spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard, it’s “extremely pungent and wild” as the sherry cask influence plays perfectly against the tropical character of the malt itself. It’s safe to say there is simply nothing else like this on the market, and at our jaw-dropping price of over 50% off the going market rate, it’s a must-have for any serious whiskey collector.
K&L Notes: Kavalan has spent the better part of the last decade racking up double gold medals and best-in-class awards for a ton of their different bottlings year after year, but none are more awarded than the Solist Single Casks. The Taiwanese distillery is famous for its intensely hot and humid aging, which extracts the most exquisite flavors from these special casks in a hurry. When you select the finest wood available, the results are some of the most intensely flavored malts produced anywhere in the world. Here we have a single manzanilla cask bottled without color or chill filtration at 58.6% ABV. If you’re not up on your Spanish sherry, manzanilla is akin to the fino style of sherry, but comes exclusively from San Lucar de Barrameda. The coastal town produces glorious fresh, briny, and mineral-driven wines that are delightful in hot weather. It’s the perfect environment for the development of flor in the sherry production process, which protects the wines from aging oxidatively like Oloroso. The result when this type of cask is applied to whisky is otherworldly. The whisky is still dark in color thanks to Taiwan’s harsh aging environs and has a lovely sweetness paired with that briny coastal nature of the manzanilla. It’s no wonder this whisky took Double Gold three years in a row at the SF Spirits Competition. *Please note the word ‘Solist’ does not appear on the bottles in the USA due to trademark issues, but this is the same lineup of single casks labeled Solist in Taiwan*
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: August 17, 2022
It’s just shocking that we’ve managed to acquire this much insanely rare Kavalan at such a stupendously under-market price. Not much more to say about this special distillery except that I hope their products become regularly available to us at this price. That, unfortunately, is a pipe dream, so we’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts. This manzanilla cask is so rare and unusual I really have little frame of reference, only having tasted a handful of manzanilla sherry-aged malt in the last two decades. The obvious comparison is Kavalan’s own fino cask offering, which used to be more available and was always my favorite release. Let’s have a taste. An inviting, deep copper color. Immediately, the nose has that fino funk that I love. Extremely pungent and wild, but then it quickly transitions into a huge array of delicate fruit flavors—mirabelle, apricot jam, candied hazelnut, greengage, and behind that a subtle salinity adding a leathery, earthy character. The tiny hints of voile character are more subdued than in the fino and less raisiny. Still, there’s plenty of dried fruit and sweetness in the nose—an absolutely unique and incredibly inviting style. On the palate, it’s ultra-rich and starts very sweet on the entry before moving into a panoply of savory and sweet flavors—wet tobacco leaf, polished mahogany, nougat, dried apricots, salty caramel, and old, earthy oak. With water the tannins soften significantly, and the salted plum character explodes. I’m super into this, and it’s a gorgeous departure from the flavors of the oloroso without losing the opulence of the sherry.
