Kavalan takes its name from the indigenous people who once inhabited Taiwan's Yilan Plain—a name that honours both the region's old identity and its original inhabitants. Founded in 2005 by Tian-Tsai Lee, the distillery was Taiwan's first whisky producer and has since earned global recognition. The Classic is its flagship single malt, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-wine casks under the intense humidity and pure snowmelt waters of Snow Mountain.
The nose reveals tropical fruit—pineapple and mango lead—layered with floral notes, vanilla, and honey. There's a density and vigour here that belies the whisky's youth, with a grainy texture underneath that suggests something more complex than a simple young malt.
On the palate, tropical fruit persists alongside citrus and a light spiciness. The body is lean but not thin, with a clean, citrus-driven finish touched by a hint of oil.
- ABV
- 40%
- Type
- Single Malt
- Bottle size
- 70cl
- Distillery
- Kavalan
- Price indication
- Casks
- Sherry Cask, Wine Cask, Bourbon Cask
- Country
- Taiwan