Taiwan brings their version of Scotch to the table

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

A third invasion of the United States began quietly on or around 1955 with the unheralded introduction of the Volkswagen. They appeared suddenly and their population grew in leaps and bonds. This was noticed by the Japanese who, in the mid '60s gave us the Datsun, now Nissan. The ability to buy a decent automobile at reasonable prices overpowered car buyers of this country and it did not take long until, like the Volkswagen, there were Japanese automobiles all over the nation... but it did not stop there.

The Koreans soon saw that there was a market for their products and almost instantaneously Hyundai automobiles, Samsung, and almost everything electronic was of Korean origin. Not to be left out, by the last years of the 20th century, the Chinese realized that "there was gold in them thar hills" and after that, almost everything that we laid our hands on was from China.

Now, from Taiwan, comes the penultimate attack, this time it is not on us, but Scotland. A distillery in Taiwan is now making single malt whiskies that are, price for price, and the equal of the best Scotch single malts made. The only answer we have for Scotland is to declare WAR on Taiwan, much as the Duchy of Grand Fenwick did to the United Stated, in the novel and subsequent movie "The Mouse That Roared" to stop California winemakers from making a copy of their only export, Pinot de Grand Fenwick: a war, which by the way, Grand Fenwick won.

Kavalan Single Malt Whisky (Source: Google Images)

Kavalan Classic Whisky ($89.99). This is the base product of the Kavalan Distillery and the one that they hang their hat on. The aroma, as well as the flavor is smooth and gentile as any whisky that we have yet tasted. The aroma abounds with suggestions of mango, honey, vanilla, coconuts all backed up by a hint of chocolate, and a suggestion of citrus. This is not a Scotch whisky but it's sure hard to tell that it ain't.

Kavalan Concertmaster Whisky ($99.99). Concertmaster is aged in used Portuguese ruby, tawny Port wine casks to add enticing layers of flavors but not imparting any of the sweetness associated with those beverages. This is a technique that is also often used by the Scotch distillers to soften and flavor their products. This whisky is called Concertmaster because there are hints of tropical fruit, honey, and vanilla, which carry over to the flavor and on to the finish and Concertmaster is, as the name implies, a concert in a glass.

Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Whisky ($159.99). The name alone boldly announces that this whisky has been aged in old, used bourbon casks. This bourbon barrel aged whisky does not pick up a bourbon flavor or aroma but utilizes the natural oak and vanilla found in those barrels, which was left in the wood by the bourbon that they formally contained. As you would probably expect, there is oak and vanilla galore in this whisky followed by an extremely clean and full favored finish.

Kavalan Vinho Barrique Whisky ($159.99). Vinho is the Portuguese word for wine, in this case, wine that is aged in American oak barrels. It is in these same, wine impregnated barrels, or as they are called in Portugal, barrique's, that this whisky is aged. The time in oak opens a host of flavors and aromas to the whisky, including the expected vanilla and oak but also dark chocolate, melon, mango, kiwi and citrus. This is an incredibly deep and super enjoyable whisky that can hold its own with any in the same price category.

Kavalan Sherry Cask Whisky ($184.99). In Scotland, it is common practice to age their finest whisky in used sherry barrels, a trait that the Taiwanese have picked up on. This whisky displays the dried fruit and nuttiness of a fine sherry without any of the sweetness. Words cannot do this whisky justice so our suggestion is try it, we are sure you will love it.