Wow, that’s pricey! I assume those are USD?
I never knew. How much cheaper are those in Taiwan?
Yep, USD. Last couple bottles I bought in Taiwan were at duty free at tpe in late 2019, under $200 each for the ex fino sherry.
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so kavalan. BIG shout out to ICON for gifting me a 1000cc big bottle of kavalan Solist ex bourbon cask and had her coworker bring it to me as well.
Thank you ICON.
had a Kavalan mini get together the other week with two of my buds come over to try the two Solist I currently have, the ex bourbon and the Manzanilla.
I liked the previous bottle of ex oloroso sherry I had wifey carry back from japan for me, and that bottle is history now.
but now i can relate to where the connoisseurs talk about Kavalan being not only from a single distillery they are SINGLE CASK. so there can be variances between casks even though they may be the same kind, ie manzanilla and unfortunately some of the casks are not as good as others.
And i do feel that this Manzanilla that i had wifeys friend carry back from japan for me not too long ago is part of that “not as good as it could be” Kavalan. When i drank it i felt it was not as good as the ex oloroso sherry and i thought could it be because it’s just different being manzanilla and not oloroso?
My two buds also conclude they liked the ex bourbon better and this manzanilla did not get a request for a second shot. So i guess it’s a bit of a dog this one and i spent 250 dollars for it too !!
it costs up to 500 here but a dog is a dog. It just tastes a little how shall i describe it , “not as well balanced” , not a strike but instead leaving two pins standing on opposite corners, not “bad” but “not as nice as the ex oloroso i had before or this ex bourbon”
So i got a bum cask.
If you see this number i guess avoid? Manzanilla cask number MA150702045A . It has NOT improved after a few months past the shoulder sadly.
I guess i will offer more generous pours of this bottle next kavalan meet.
who knows maybe leave it a bit longer and it may balance out and become a different animal?
i understand Kavalan’s top spec are solists and among solists the prices can vary quite a bit. Then there is the non cask strength offerings which are not single cask where they blend the type and bring down to 46pct alchohol. These sell for a lower price. The beauty of a blend is that the “nose” can blend together some not as good casks with others that are better to retain a certain character. I feel that this not so perfect manzanilla one i got should have been blended as i dont think it merited the solist label and price expecially at some 250 dollars.
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