Kavalan King Car

The King Car Kavalan distillery in Taiwan is still very young, founded in 1979. They got the help of expert Dr Jim Swan, which I have met at the festival in Ghent as a soft spoken, rather introvert man that bursts with enthusiasm for Kavalan. This Conductor is a vatting of 8 different casks, including a bourbon and sherrycask. The other 6? Who knowns? The whisky already scooped up three gold medals.

The nose is very fragrant and fresh, with exotic fruit like banana and oranges, toffee and some white fruit, vanilla and honey. Coconut as well. I feel the bourbon cask contributed a lot to the aroma. Sublte spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. After a few moments, some mango and papaya emerge. Becomes creamy.

It is very oily and the attack is spicy. It is immediately drying, which suggests a wine cask. Wood shavings. Malt. Mango. A little zesty. Seville oranges make it somewhat bitter. Hints of chocolate.

In the rather long finish, the malt and vanilla linger.

Nice package, this King Car. I am truly impressed. Around 80 EUR, which I find a bit much. But then, it has to travel many miles. Much better than the two standard Kavalan offerings.

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