Kavalan Podium

The SAQ recently received 4 Kavalan Expressions amidst silly controversy that made it all the way to the reader mail portion an episode of whiskycast (I think we really need more women in whisky). Overall I thought the experience was interesting on different points I posted a more opinionated in depth on the ole blog.

Kavalan Podium 46% abv. I believe it is a vatting of virgin oak and second fill in house barrels...a little bit of whatever is used for the Solist series I suppose.

Nose: Sweet, bubble-gummy, definitely wine cask influences, you feel the dark berries, tree buds and the oak. The alcohol is a bit sharp at first, it opens up after time, floral, slight sulfur, a bit of ripe creamy tropical fruits, apple skins, milk chocolate and nuts, plum wine.   Palate: It is indeed sweet, ginger, the oak is present and there is a touch of leather (don't ask how I know that taste), the texture is nice & viscous. Vanilla, cocoa powder a kind of sweet oak and green fruits, none of the jujube/tropical fruits from the nose.

The finish is mid length very drying with a fair amount of pepper, ginger and bitterness

Grade: B

It's good but not earth shattering, the nose is beautiful just not very malt whisky like. In hindsight the cask play is an interesting way to provide some of what makes the Solist series so intriguing. At a fair price I would be tempted to have some of this around the house.  

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