KAVALAN, VINHO BARRIQUE, SINGLE BARREL SINGLE MALT WHISKY

YILAN COUNTY, TAIWAN

The latest Single Malt Whisky that should be on your radar isn't from Scotland or Japan - it's from Taiwan. Taiwan's first whisky producer and the country's only family-owned whisky distillery, Kavalan has quickly caught the attention of critics and enthusiasts alike. Though Kavalan was named Distiller of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition just twelve years after being established, their Vinho Barrique ultimately turned doubters into believers after being named the world's Best Single Malt Whisky at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in 2015 (a title previously awarded to notable whisky giant Yamazaki). This award-winning whisky is cask strength and aged in ex-wine American oak barrels, but the deal today is even more special. We were able to hand-select a single barrel of this modern icon to offer a unique Cask Selection of the Kavalan Vinho Barrique.

The company's founder, Tien-Tsai Lee, made his name with the King Car Group food conglomerate, but whisky was always his first passion. He worked alongside master blender Ian Chang and celebrated whisky specialist, the late Dr. Jim Swan, to establish Kavalan, named in honor of the indigenous Kavalan people who inhabited Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan where the distillery is located. As fans of Japanese whisky will know, subtropical, humid climates speed up the aging process and allow the whiskies to develop and mature at a much faster rate than their European counterparts. The barrels used to age Vinho Barrique undergo a process known as STR: Shave, Toast, Re-Char. Ex-wine barrels are disassembled, shaved down to remove old char and unwanted wine flavors, then toasted and re-charred before being reassembled to age the whisky. This process reinvigorates the barrels while also allowing subtle nuances from the wine to contribute to the finished profile of the whisky-it's a complex and highly memorable expression, with notes of bright melon and citrus fruit, rich caramelized sugar and dark chocolate, and softer hints of hazelnut and pepper.

As the world of high-quality single malt whisky continues to expand, we are thrilled to have hand-selected a single barrel for you today. With only 37 six-packs available and 15% off the first bottle, this offer will sell out. Don't miss your chance to add this Private Selection edition to your library today!