About Taiwanese Spirits

A recent phenomenon in Taiwan has been the production of single malt whisky. Not just any single malt, mind you, but some that have been acclaimed as among the world's best. All this in just a few short years.

The single malts from Taiwan are made in an intense, yet elegant style that emphasize strong and complex fruit and spice flavors from the distillate and especially the oak, were the tropical climate of the island has a huge influence and greatly accelerates maturation. While single malt whisky in Taiwan is a small industry at present, look for it to grow.
Top Picks for Taiwan
216150
Kavalan
"Solist" Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Bright golden amber color. Sweet, woody aromas and flavors of caramelized apples and tropical fruits, toffee, vanilla custard, and dusty straw and tea and clay with a chewy, vibrant, fruity full body and a prodigious, very long coconut gelato, sweet and peppery spices, and oak spice finish. An incredibly flavorful whisky with intense fruit and spice.
98 points $159.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216153
Kavalan
"Solist" Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Bright amber color. Fruity, spicy aromas and flavors of caramel spice cake, chocolate maple fudge, sweet and peppery spiced cherries and berries, and pencil shavings and leather with a round, vibrant, fruity body and a warming, huge, endless mocha gelato, cherry cola, exotic Asian spices and incense, and mango chutney finish. A rich, powerful single malt with flavors that explode and evolve in the mouth.
98 points $159.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216161
Kavalan
"Solist" Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Brilliant bronze color. Rubbery, nutty, inviting aromas and flavors of dark roasted nuts, molasses orange rum cake, sherry, and mocha with a round, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a complex, very long caramelized nuts and tropical fruits and rich brown spices finish. A fantastically powerful sherry influenced single malt.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216160
Kavalan
Sherry Oak Single Malt Whisky
Dark amber color. Nutty, buttery aromas of roasted pecans, rancio, dark chocolate, and conditioned suede with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, long mocha raisin fudge, chocolate flan, cedar, and pepper and minerals finish. A wonderfully rich and flavor packed sherry centric single malt.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216151
Kavalan
"Solist" Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Dark bronze mahogany color. Complex, inviting aromas and flavors of molasses and cola, brandied raisins and dried cherries, melted chocolate toffee, ginger, and soy and Asian spices with a velvety, tangy, fruity full body and a very complex, endless spiced tropical fruits, honey cake, honeyed nuts, and black tea leaves finish. An amazingly powerful and flavor-packed whisky that really is quite remarkable.
97 points $184.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216159
Kavalan
Ex-Bourbon Oak Single Malt Whisky
Brilliant gold color. Aromas and flavors of candied lime and mango, citrus blossoms, and white chocolate toffee with a round, vibrant, fruity medium-full body and an intricate, long pineapple-mango gelato, apricot cobbler, latte, and spice finish. A rich tropical fruit bomb of a whisky that has instant appeal.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216156
Kavalan
"Solist" Brandy Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Dark dark amber color. Tropical, spicy aromas and flavors of mango raisin chutney, caramel spice cake, and vanilla toffee with a chewy, vibrant, fruity full body and a warming, colossal, very long chocolate, exotic spices, and pepper finish. A remarkably vibrant and flavorful whisky with a rich core of dried fruit.
95 points $159.99
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216162
Kavalan
"Solist" Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Brilliant copper color. Inviting aromas and flavors of maple syrup on porridge, creme brulee, tea and toffee, and figs with a velvety, vibrant, medium-full body and a warming, very complex, endless salty sautéed nuts, fruit cake, spice, and earth finish. A superlative whisky with incredible depth, nuance and length.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216164
Kavalan
"Solist" Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Brilliant amber color. Roasted aromas of nut brittle, orange chocolate cake, lemongrass, and polished cedar with a supple, lively, fruity full body and a warming, very complex, very long sherry marinated raisins and tropical fruits, vanilla toffee, chocolate nuts, and minerals finish. A fantastically rich and long lasting dram with cascading waves of flavor.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab
216163
Kavalan
"Solist" Pedro Ximenez Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Bright dark copper color. Attractive aromas and flavors of raisin cake, caramelized nuts, orange blossom honey, and cola with an oily, vibrant, fruity body and an even, complex, long nutskins, fruit chutney, straw, and limestone finish. A remarkably rich and concentrated dessert-style single malt whisky.
Date Tasted: in our Chicago tasting lab