Here’s another 20th Anniversary bottling from The Whisky Exchange. I guess this Taiwanese Kavalan took a little longer to arrive. They’ve picked a single rum cask, quite rare for this distillery.
Kavalan 7 yo 2011 (57,1%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 20th Anniversary 2019, rum cask M111104011A, 151 btl.)
Nose: a luscious mix of floral wood (white flowers, sawdust, grasses), juicy fruits and rummy sweetness. Pears, gooseberries and pineapple in syrup, bits of mango and yellow Haribo sweets. Vanilla cream. Hints of mint and oak polish, even a subtle mineral touch.
Mouth: quite hot but with a great fruity, candied profile. Pineapple again, hints of papaya and lychee. Citrus candy. Peppery oak. Becoming a little dry, with liquorice, bay leaf, green tea and nutmeg. Somehow reminiscent of a rum matured Teeling, but with a little less finesse. Water tempers the wood nicely though.
Finish: moderately long, with bananas, vanilla and a rummy, spirity side.
Fruity spirit in a cask that further enhances the (tropical) fruits. Easy to drink (with a few drops of water) and recommended if you have a sweet tooth. Only available from The Whisky Exchange.
Score: 88/100