Single Malt Vinho Barrique Selection Cask No W170302126D (((Bottled 2024)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release, remaining in peak condition for decades if stored properly.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts, roasted duck, mature blue cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Kavalan's Vinho Barrique is a legendary expression in the world of spirits, celebrated for its revolutionary maturation process. Utilizing American oak wine casks that previously held both red and white wines, the casks undergo the meticulous STR (Shaving, Toasting, and Re-charring) protocol—a groundbreaking technique pioneered by the late, legendary whisky consultant Dr. Jim Swan. This process coaxes out rich, caramelized sugars and deep wood flavors from the oak. Set against the backdrop of Yilan County's dramatic subtropical climate, where intense heat accelerates the interaction between spirit and wood, this single malt matures at an astonishing rate. The result is a whisky of immense complexity, boasting notes of ripe melon, dark chocolate, caramelized brown sugar, and rich spices, representing a masterclass in modern Taiwanese whisky-making.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2005 by Tien-Tsai Lee of the King Car Group, Kavalan is Taiwan’s pioneer single malt whisky distillery, situated in the verdant alluvial plain of Yuanshan Township within Yilan County. Flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Xueshan (Snow Mountain) range, the facility harnesses pure, mineral-rich mountain meltwater for mashing. Operating with traditional copper pot stills, Kavalan’s terroir expression is heavily defined by northeastern Taiwan’s intense subtropical humidity and fluctuating heat. Formulated in partnership with the late maturation specialist Dr. Jim Swan, this extreme climatic regime accelerates barrel extraction and oxidation, condensing years of aging into rapid cycles. Utilizing meticulously managed wood programs—most notably pioneering the Shave, Toast, and Re-char (STR) cask rejuvenation process alongside seasoned sherry and bourbon wood—Kavalan achieves extraordinary density, tropical fruit character, and structural finesse. Its benchmark Solist series, particularly the Vinho Barrique and Oloroso Sherry single-cask expressions, commands global critical prestige.