Kavalan Solist Amontillado Single Cask Strength

For reference, this sample came from single cask AM100623018A that was bottled at 55.6%. The nose is bold and dense with a syrupy richness that starts with dark chocolate, tart blueberries and antique polished furniture then toasted walnuts and freshly lit pipe tobacco followed by musty grapes, caramelized peaches and orange blossom that transitions to anise, cardamom, saffron and vintage leather with high ethanol burn. The taste is a rich and syrupy mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate sour spice that slowly fades to fresh lit tobacco and toasted walnuts then dark chocolate covered tart blueberries and antique polished furniture followed by prunes, caramelized peaches and charred orange peel that transitions to anise, cardamom, saffron and mildly bitter black tea with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with creamy tropical fruits, dark chocolate covered raisins, toasted walnuts, anise, cardamom, saffron, dusty leather-bound books and polished antique furniture. Gosh, I’m not sure how Kavalan does it but all the flavors are rich and intense with a nose that pulls you in with dark chocolate, tart fruits and old oak leading before toasted nuts and a light earthy smoke that fades to tart but sweet fruits and unique spices that carries over to the palate with the addition of creamy tropical fruits that has a moderate bitterness that eventually fades to those tart and sweet fruits found on the nose before finishing long with a mix of sweet and tart fruits, chocolate, unique spices and old oak that lingers and reveals notes slowly over the course of minutes after each sip. This is another exceptional release by Kavalan that the flavors are all dialed up to an 11 but for me it falls short of the level that the Moscatel reached due to a higher spice and the fruits having a moderate tartness that I don’t recall finding in the Moscatel. Kavalan’s Solist line is expensive but if you can find a pour or bottle at a justifiable price, I’d highly recommend anyone to try them as there really isn’t anything out there that can match the syrupy dense flavors that these single barrels produce.

The most complex thing I’ve ever tasted. An out of body experience as layers of black pepper, freshly baked bread and vanilla gave way to oak, cinnamon, and toasted hazelnut. The hazelnut became more pronounced as it sat and was joined by raisin flavors characteristic of sherry.

Nose: vanilla, honey and butterscotch Palate: oily, a little spicy, rich, and sweet Finish: cinnamon, warm spice

Cask AM100623011A. Aged 6 years 1 month. Great stuff with lots of nutty and chocolate tasting notes alongside mango, citrus, passion fruit, floral, pepper, raisins, and buttery cookies.