ABV: 58.6%

Age statement: 

 

Color: Dark brown, almost coffee-like

 

Nose: In a blind tasting, you'd think this would be an old sherry cask whisky; there's immediate notes of oak, black currant, blue plum, cherries, port wine - but also some more exotic tones of kola nuts, ginger, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and jasmin, with some deeper tones of pomegranate, orange and prunes. Absolutely excellent. 25/25

Taste: An immediate hit of vanilla and red plum, followed by black currant, cocoa and a grittier taste, almost like chalk or coal, from the oak. 21/25

Finish: The chalk and black currant tastes continue, and the ginger from the nose returns, moving over to a bitter, oaky taste of dry tannins. 19/25

Style: I'm a big fan of the deep sherry cask whiskies with loads of tannins, so this, for me, was the essence of sherried whisky, with a slight twist of exotic spices. 23/25

Total: Just fantastic, it's a shame it's so expensive (1600 NOK, currently available at Vinmonopolet) 88/100

Traditional score: 94/100

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask Matured