Taiwanese whisky has been a 'thing' for a while now, since 2008 in fact, but the highly-regarded Kavalan whiskies are now finally available in NZ !!!

KAVALAN Solist Brandy Cask matures in selected first fill brandy casks, which give it its sweet and balanced taste. It is unchill-filtered with no added coloring and is bottled as a single cask at cask strength. Each bottling carries a serial number, cask type and the signature of the master blender.

Tasting Note 

Nose: Peaches and cream, strawberry jam, freshly cut passion fruit, creamy toffee, baking spices and warm honey.

Palate: Tinned peaches, oily with dark toffee, toasted nuts and tropical fruits.

Finish: A long finish of stewed peaches, lychee and cocoa.

The name Kavalan means ‘flatland people’ and is named after the local indigenous tribes who originally inhabited the area. The land on which the distillery sits is known for its cold spring water and salty ocean air and let’s not forget the subtropical heat which helps with accelerated maturation taking the whisky only two years to produce.

“We strive to produce quality and distinctive Taiwanese whisky and we are confident that it will please the whisky connoisseurs worldwide. Kavalan whisky is now available in most European countries and will be launched in the US and Russia very soon. Our goal is to make Kavalan available globally.”- Ian Cheng Kavalan Distillery Master Distiller

The top floors of this warehouse at the distillery can reach up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit, causing an angel’s share of no less than 15% annually. The distilleries most memorable awards coming from the Whisky Magazine’s most prestigious awards Icons of Whisky being named ‘Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year’ in 2011′, The Kavalan Fino being named Asian Whisky of the Year 2013, and The Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique being named 2015 World Whisky of the Year’

The second whisky in the Kavalan Concertmaster series is aged in the distillery’s own special reserve of refill casks, then finished in the Spanish ex Sherry casks. Bottled at 40% abv with no colouring.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Tropical fruits of mango and coconut, red fruits of raspberries and cranberries, milk chocolate and creamy vanilla toffee.

Palate: Ripe dark fruits of raisins and figs, toasted walnuts and almond flakes, creme brûlée and strawberry jam.

Finish: Dark chocolate, creamy toffee and red fruits.

Nose - There is a lot of typical Kavalan nuts, vanilla and honey but then comes this beautiful sweet smoky sea air with stewed apples, pears, pineapples and thick raspberry jam. It has the signature Kavalan tropical fruit notes, but they are hidden under a thick smoke and vanilla scent.

Palate - It comes in warm and thick a true Cask Strength single malt, with that raspberry jam and thick vanilla from the nose really showing their way through along with some coconut and smoky fruit flavour. This has a medium to long finish that is all present on the palate and coating of your mouth. When swallowed it seems to disappear as if it never went down at all but your mouth is left with a ton of smoky spices and fruity flavours that stay for a long time.

Black Nikka Rich Blend is made from Miyagikyo malt, with non and low proof, with a high proof Yoichi seasoning, with key components matured in ex-sherry casks. The complexity of the malts - sweet and full-bodied - is balanced by the lightness of the Coffey grain whisky. This is a completely different profile to the standard 'Black Nikka', smoother and more elegant.

Hibiki was created to be the paragon of the Suntory blend.  The name Hibiki literally means "resonance" in Japanese, and reflects the Suntory Corporate philosophy to "live in harmony with people and nature."  

The Hibiki Japanese Harmony is the epitome of the Hibiki blend.  Subtle, noble and harmonious, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a perfect introduction to Japanese Whisky and the award-winning House of Suntory Whisky.

Nose:  Rose, Lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness/sandalwood

Palate: Honey like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate

Finish: Subtle and tender long finish, hint of Mizunara (Japanese Oak)

Suntory Chita 700ml

The Chita is the only grain whisky produced and bottled as such by Suntory. It is a blend of single grains (mainly corn), relatively young, but with strong tasting characteristics that have been aged in different types of casks, and distilled at the Chita distillery located a few kilometers from Nagoya city.

Its rich and complex aromatic profile strongly marked by fruity, woody and spicy notes, is close to that of the American whiskies, known as the famous Bourbons whiskies. 

Bottled at 43% of the volume in a bottle with the typical Suntory shape, The Chita is a tribute to the know-how of the grain distillery whose name in traditional Japanese calligraphy is now, like the other distilleries of the group, proudly displayed on the label.

Alc: 43%

Manzanilla is much like Fino sherry, which is produced by the sea where the conditions are even more suitable for the growing of flor. Though the maturation is the same as for the Kavalan Fino, the texture is lighter and more delicate with a touch of saltiness together with mineral flavours, which are all the consequences of a stable and thick layer of flor, sea breezes and brine.

To produce this release of Akashi Single Malt Whisky, the White Oak distillery aged this whisky in Cognac barrels for 3 and a half years before refining it for 10 months in barrels of white wine from the Akashi vineyard in Yamanashi County. The result is a Single Malt without cold staining or filtration, which has a nice balance and focused on woody and fruity notes.

Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.

Single malt whisky from the White Oak Akashi range, matured for five years in a white wine cask.

The nose is softly spicy with a smidge of smoke, wrapped up in tangy grape and citrus leading to brown sugar on the palate and more tangy fruit brightness that cuts through the vanilla and oak. A lasting hint of lemon and chocolate on the finish.

500mL | 50%ABV

A single malt from the Japanese distillery White Oak, which has been aged for three and a half years in cognac barrels before a finishing period of 10 months in red wine casks that preciously held red wine from the Akashi vineyard located in Yamanashi.

The 4th release in the Greedy Angels series, showing that Amrut can do as a 10 Year-Old whisky. A rich, smoky Indian single malt whisky matured for 10 years and finished in an exrum cask, before being bottled in October 2019. Smoky peat and woody spice notes lead to sweet spice and marmalade, moving into cherry, cocoa and sweet vanilla. The palate shows sweet butterscotch, citrus and tropical fruits, followed by camphor, soft smoke and rumsoaked raisins. 

Each decanter comes complete with a decadent presentation box as well as a rather weighty glass stopper. Only 450 bottles produced

Amrut Fusion X (ten), a special, limited-edition single malt whisky was launched on the November 25 in honour of the 10th anniversary of Amrut Distilleries. Amrut whiskies are a connoisseur’s delight. Especially for the discerning patron is the Amrut Fusion X. The Fusion whisky has been matured in sherry casks imported from Spain, for four years. While the base remains the familiar Fusion, its treatment gives whisky lovers a whole new flavour profile to enjoy. On the first sip, the whisky gives you marzipan, vanilla, and citrus on the palate, followed by peat that comes through and lingers on. I sampled it neat and a little later with a cube of ice and enjoyed the lingering peat flavours. 

Amrut Fusion X is a collectable. It is a very limited bottling of 1010 bottles released internationally.

This intriguing whisky is aged in sherry casks which have been infused with orange peel and wine for 3 years before being emptied and refilled with the unfinished Amrut spirit. This creates an unusual yet delicious whisky with a strong but balanced orange presence.