Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask Chapter 3

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Bottled from a single ex-Peated Single Malt Barrel (presumably Laphroaig), this is one of the last such barrels in Kavalan's possesion, and at 9 Years & 4 Months one of the oldes. Bottled at 57.8%. Part of Truth Malters (Kavalan's Canadian importer) Chapter Series.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: the aroma is reminiscent of walking in to a cigar lounge filled with plush leather sofas while everyone in the room is enjoying big tumblers of Armagnac; perhaps some dark chocolate on the side; caramel and fruits trying to push their way through the smoke; I get a little tarry-creosote thing too, but it is interesting.

Palate: big, no, massive, but elegant and refined; the smoke is surprisingly bold, but not rough, its elegant; more leather, chocolate and tobacco with Russian caramel and yes... tropical fruits; a touch waxy and steely, but the fruits, my God, the fruits...; its juicy, lush and layered; and the smoke, and gentle peat... I can't believe how prominent they are! 

Finish: lightens on the finish, but lingers long; creamy with fading tropical fruits and cigar smoke.

Comment: wow, I'm pretty sure this is the oldest Kavalan I've ever had; the Solist Peaty was always my favourite release from the distillery; essentially it is unpeated malt, matured in an ex-peated-Scotch whisky cask; this one is on the verge of being over-oaked, 9.5 years in the Taiwanese climate can do that; but there is no bitterness; the tropical fruits are there, but the peat and smoke have held up remarkably well; brilliant! 

 

700 ml