Taiwan’s Kavalan Distillery has added to its premium whisky portfolio with the release of Solist Palo Cortado. The new expression, bottled at 50-59.9% ABV, joins six existing sherry-aged whiskies in Kavalan’s lineup, including Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado, Manzanilla, Pedro Ximénez, and Moscatel expressions.
Each release in the Solist series maintains the distillery’s commitment to craft presentation, featuring natural color and non-chill filtration at single cask strength.
‘Sherry Cask Encyclopedia’
CEO YT Lee emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Kavalan’s sherry offerings, describing the collection as a “Sherry Cask Encyclopedia.” The addition of Palo Cortado represents a particularly exclusive release, given the extreme rarity of these casks in the global market.
“With Palo Cortado sherry accounting for less than 1% of global sherry production, we saved one of the rarest and most unique sherry casks to the last,” Lee says. “Uniquely combining the elegance of Amontillado with the richness of Oloroso, our Palo Cortado is replete with intricate aromas of cocoa powder, citrus, dried fruits, pastries, and toffee.”
The Palo Cortado casks, sourced from Spain’s renowned Sherry Triangle region, are among the most sought-after in the sherry world, making this expression a notable addition to the global premium whisky category.
Kavalan Solist Palo Cortado Presentation and Tasting Profile
The packaging design showcases a vibrant yellow color scheme, chosen specifically to highlight the qualities of Palo Cortado sherry casks. Each bottle comes housed in an elegant wooden box, emphasizing the whisky’s premium positioning and complexity.
The official tasting notes reveal a sophisticated flavor profile that begins with a rich, mahogany-caramel appearance. On the nose, drinkers can expect complex layers of cocoa powder and citrus, followed by mature dried fruits and toffee, with underlying notes of nuts, vanilla fruitcake, and aromatic cardamom.
The palate continues this complexity with distinctive orange pound cake characteristics, complemented by rich dried fruits melding with vanilla and toasted biscuit aromas. These flavors are further enhanced by caramel toffee accents and crushed walnut notes that create a lasting impression.
Market Availability
Distribution of the Solist Palo Cortado is currently limited to Taiwan, available through official Kavalan channels including the distillery shop, Kavalan Whisky shops, Kavalan Whisky Bar, and select local liquor stores.
Read the full article at Kavalan Completes ‘Sherry Encylclopedia’ With Rare Palo Cortado Cask Whisky