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.

Bottled at 52%, this slightly reduced single malt expresses the full potential of its aromatic profile. Similar to the 43% version, its character reveals a more pungent side with fruity notes of apple, apricot and ripe fruits. On the palate, the rougher texture is light and silky, and highlights greedy aromas of honey, vanilla and cocoa. On the finish, spices will make their appearance with notes of pepper and nutmeg.

Kura White Oak 8yo 720ml

Exceptionally hand crafted Okinawa Single Malt reserved in selected North American white oak casks for 8 years. Kura is made from best quality Indica with black Koji unique to Okinawa using traditional production methods of over 600 years of craftsmanship. Complex aroma and mellow taste bring whisky lovers to a different and new concept of true local Japanese Single Malt.

Alc: 40%

A variation of Kura The Whisky blended malt whisky, which has enjoyed a finishing period in casks that previously held rum. We're rather fold of rum cask finished whiskies, as they help to bolster any lip-smacking fruit notes - and that's exactly what has happened here.

This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is full of red berry notes gained from the whisky's maturation in Bordeaux wine and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks which add subtle fragrant oak notes.

Amrut Distilleries recently launched an umbrella brand, the Single Malts of India, to showcase the hidden gem malts of India. Neidhal is described as a single malt eponymously sourced from a Neidhal or coastal region and is said to exhibit traits that uniquely spring from the locale. 

Tasting notes make mention of tropical fruits, vanilla punctuated by soft phenols and above all sea salt on the nose. On the palate, it is fruit cocktail and mesmerising phenols with a touch of iodine. The middle ground is an essay in chewability and a finish that is phenolic with a touch of sweet vanilla.

46% ABV

Nikka Days, the latest creation of the brand, is a shining example of this state of mind. A subtle blend of grain and malt whiskies. Creamy and smooth, fruity and floral, this whisky will please amateurs and connoisseurs alike.

The flagship single malt from Japan's first and oldest malt distillery. 

This malt has acquired a bit of a reputation for its elegance and subtlety of flavour and now has a cult following. It's available in limited quantities so grab it while you can.

The nose offers nuts, florals and oodles of tropical fruit leading to a palate that is zesty, spicy and nuanced with rum like notes.

This release from Kavalan's Solist series has been aged in casks which held the sweetest type of sherry: Pedro Ximenez. This is a warming and fruity whisky with notes of juicy raisins and honey syrup.

57% ABV

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

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.

The award-winning Nikka Whisky From The Barrel blend is absolutely full of flavour. Bottled at 51.4% ABV. The blend combines both single malt and grain whiskies from the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries, which are then married in a huge variety of casks, including bourbon barrels, sherry butts and refill hogsheads. A huge depth of flavour in this stunning Japanese whisky. 

Nose: Medium-body with good balance. There are notes of cut flowers and fresh fruits, spice and a little oak.

Palate: Full-bodied and punchy. There is plenty of winter spice and toffee, a little caramel and vanilla and a good mouthful of fruit.

Finish: Long, warming and fruity with a little oaken spice.

The Matsui the peated - Lightly peated barley creates a smoky and opulent blend complemented by a sweet and spicy finish,

Distilled and aged at Kurayoshi Distillery

The Matsui Sakura Cask - Aged in Japanese cherry-wood casks, known as Sakura.  Rich, sweet and full-bodied with bold flavours.

Distilled and aged at Kurayoshi Distillery.