Kavalan Conductor Review

Country: Taiwan

Brand: Kavalan Conductor (King Car's Kavalan Distillery)

Type: Single Malt Whisky (Vatting of 8 Different Casks)

Age:  NAS (Probably around 3 Years)

ABV: 46 %

Date: 12/07/2013

Colour:  Golden Amber

Nose: In a Blind Tasting I could have easily identified this as a Bourbon. Clear tones of Syrup, Honey, Vanilla, Charred Oak, Coconut, Cinnamon, Toffee and Wood Polish. There's a pleasant Creamy, Buttery feeling to this Nose. The Alcohol is nicely blended in. To me 46% seems to be the perfect ABV for a good Single Malt. After a while in the glass the Fruity notes become more evident so take your time. I get Apple, Pear, Orange and Banana. These are coincidentally four of the most consumed fruits in the Netherlands. Hints of more exotic Fruit as well (Papaya-Cream). The Nose of the Conductor will not create a world revolution but is pleasant and well-balanced.

Palate: Less Sweet than expected. Quite Dry and Spicy actually with Cinnamon, Cloves and light Pepper. But also Malt, Honey, Butter, Orange, Banana, Pear, Oak, Nuts and a hint of Chocolate.  

Finish: Middle-Long and Dry with Spices (Cloves, Pepper), Banana, Pear, Vanilla, Malt, Butter and Wood-Shavings. 

I added a bit of Water and the Nose gets even more Fruit and Butter. Puff Pastry from Normandy filled with whole Pears! Palate and Finish do not change too much but you can certainly add a bit of Water to this Conductor!

Rating: 87

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: The King Car's Kavalan distillery is a new and technically sophisticated facility, located in the city of Yuanshan on the Northern part of the island of Taiwan. King Car is Kavalan's parent company and is specifically mentioned on the label of the Conductor as this whisky is a showcase of the group.The Kavalan is named after an indigenous tribe that lived in the region where the distillery now stands. It was built in 2005/2006 and has a current production capacity of 6 million bottles per year. The Kavalan Whiskies are usually bottled after a relative short time in the casks. In the humid climate of Taiwan, the whiskies mature much faster. The Kavalan Conductor is not cheap at around 85 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good.

Conclusion: This is my first Kavalan and I must say that I'm impressed. Maybe not so much with the individual Aromas and Flavours as such. They are good but not exceptional. What I like most about this Conductor is its balance. Nose, Palate and Finish form an almost natural combo. That's what a good Conductor does with an Orchestra of course. Therefore the name of this whisky is a good and accurate choice by its makers. Congratulations to this young distillery. I'm looking forward to taste more Kavalan expressions. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                 July 2013

Men At Work!

Hi Everybody and Welcome at Best Shot Whisky Reviews!

When I started the site in November 2011 I had no idea where it all would lead. But now we're in July 2013 and things are going great. People from all over the world visit the site in ever increasing numbers. That's a real stimulant for me of course to try and do even better from now on.

I'm not at all a computer freak and I simply took the Google Lay Out back in 2011 and started to build the blog without considering a practical lay-out that would be consumer friendly as well. But that's gonna change next week. Two friends of mine have been working hard over the last month or so to achieve just that. A practical reader-friendly blog that looks nice and where everything can be found easily and without having to scroll a lot. And with a new logo and background as well. The transfer of the archives to the new lay out will most likely take place next Tuesday. That's convenient as I will travel for my work for a couple of days. So not too many new posts next week. I hope that the transition will work out fine and I'm sorry if it might give some small inconvenience when you visit the site next week. But I really look forward to the new lay out and I hope you will enjoy it. Please leave your comments with suggestions and remarks. I would appreciate that. 
So thanks everybody for visiting Best Shot Whisky Reviews. I will keep on writing and I hope you keep on reading.
Saude!
Jan

Haig Supreme 2013 Review

Country: Scotland 

Brand: Haig Supreme

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS 

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Amber 

Nose: The Grain whiskies make themselves known. I do wonder if I ever really will appreciate their Aroma. A bit of Malt and slightly Sour Sherry and lots of Oak, Nuts and Dried Fruits (mainly Apricot). A touch of Honey and Smoke. It's not too much really although it isn't as aggressive as some of the lower shelf Blends.

Palate: Sweet at first with Sugared Orange Peel, Honey and Caramel but more dry and slightly bitter towards the end with Oak, Nuts, Pepper and Straw.

Finish: Short and Dry with Oak, Caramel, Straw, Pepper, Nuts and a puff of Smoke. 

Haig Supreme does not accept Water very well. Everything just gets watered down. Except for the fact that on the Nose the Dried Apricot becomes more evident.

Rating: 76,5

Nose: 20 - Taste: 19 - Finish: 18.5 - Overall: 19

General Remarks: The oldest family name in Scotch Whisky is Haig. Robert Haig began distilling on a farm in 1627. To honour this remarkable heritage, John Haig & Co. of Edinburgh, Scotland/Diageo Group launched the Haig Supreme, a blended Scotch whisky made of 20 different Grain- & Malt Whiskies that aged in European Oak casks. It's not expensive at around 30 US Dollars

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay

Conclusion: This is not a bad choice if you are looking for a relatively cheap Blended Scotch whisky. It beats various competitors that are offered at this price level. I'll have this over JW Red anytime, especially neat. The Haig Supreme is NAS but I suspect that most whiskies used are between 5 and 8 years with probably a touch of older whiskies as well. So why don't you score it higher than I hear you ask. Because drinking these Blends neat doesn't give me any pleasure. Nothing of any interest is happening on my Palate. Just the same old Nuts, Dried Fruits and Oak with a bit of Caramel. Honey and Orange Peel. And always that slight Bitterness just around the corner. So if you are looking for a pleasant taste experience, look somewhere else. If you want to drink, you could certainly consider this. Or try a nice Bourbon for a change!

Jan van den Ende                                                                     July 10, 2013

Bruichladdich Links Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Links

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS (*14 Years according to the Distillery)

ABV: 46 %

Date: 08/07/2013

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Sweet-Sour with Balsamic Cream, Exotic Fruit Cocktail, Condensed Milk, Sherry, Oak, Earth (Light Peat), Leather, Floral Tones, Raisins, Nuts, Orange Peel, Brown Sugar and some light Spices. When I opened the miniature I found a slightly unpleasant Cooked Vegetables Aroma but that was gone the next day so I won't consider it for the rating.

Taste: Sour Grapes and Apples, Orange Peel, Nut Casks and Roasted Nuts, light Peat, slightly Bitter Oak, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Mint, Malt and hints of Sherry and Leather.

Finish: Middle-Long with slightly Bitter Oak, Leather, Malt, Cocoa, Pepper, light Peat, hints of Smoke and Ashes, Citrus and some Sour Sherry.

I added a few drops of Water and that reinforces Malt, Buttered Toast, Peat, Honey and Passion-Fruit on the Nose. Palate and Finish don't benefit from the added Water. 

Rating: 82.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Bruichladdich distillery is located on the shore of Loch Indaal on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. It was founded in 1881 by the Harvey Brothers and closed in 1994. In 2000 it was bought by a group of private investors (including Mark Reynier) and the whole distillery was dismantled and reassembled in 2001. It was sold in 2012 to Remy Cointreau. 

The Bruichladdich Links series was released in 2003. The Tins and Labels showed a number of famous Golf Courses painted by Graham Baxter. Each release numbered less than 18.000 bottles. The Links is naturally coloured and has not been chill-filtered. Since June 2012 it's no longer officially available although you might find miniatures here and there. The miniature I'm tasting today shows Old St. Andrews Golf Course, Fife, Scotland, one of the oldest golf courses in the world  It was founded in 1552, has 18 holes and Par was set at 72. The Links St. Andrews  matured in Casks of Spanish Oak.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: An almost Syrupy Sweet-Sour Exotic Fruit Cocktail on the Nose is followed by Sour Fruit and slightly Bitter Oak on the Palate and in the Finish. Not the best of casks I suspect. It's not a bad Single Malt but you don't have to wake me up for this in the middle of the night. Still, I'm not a bad guy so I will put a Link to this whisky on my site anyway!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   July 2013

Hole # 17 (The Road Hole)