The joys of "Journey" be it Cigars or Whiskey

[El Presidente]

George Chen took us to one of Shanghai's hottest local restaurants last Tuesday. The food was excellent as expected with my favourite being the "stinky" dumplings which were in effect blue cheese dumplings. Beautiful!

We were joined for dinner by Louise, a Taiwanse lawyer heading a Texas law firm in Asia. He brought along a bottle of Taiwanese Kavalan Solist Whiskey as a treat. 

Now I am not a huge Whiskey drinker. I love a good sigle malt on occassion but it is not my forte. Rob Fox on th other hand with his families involvement in liquor (along with cigars) is an old hand. 

A glass of the Kavalan was poured to each of the 5 in attendance and only an ice cube was added. I was instructed to leave it be for a few minutes. As is my want, I took a sip anyway. Smooth as silk with no burn. Remarkable for a 59.4 Alc count. 

We tucked into the plates of food as they were brought out. Eel, stinky dumplings, fish in seaweed, pork, etal. It was 15 minutes before I went back to the Whiskey at Foxys insistence. 

The transformation was remarkable. Still smooth as silk but it had opened like a flower in terms of flavour. The first thing that came to mind was pear...lashings of pear/peach on the palate. Touch of hibiiscus, floral. Deep and rich.

There are many great Whiskeys in this world but this was a cracker. From Asia, I have drunk and enjoyed many a Japanese Whiskey and enjoyed them but this was the first Taiwanese Whiskey I have tried. Blown away. The bottle was duly finished. 

The experience made me reflect on how similar the experience is to a great cigar. The Kavalan took me on a flavour journey...an experience. I always rate a cigar that can do the same highly. Be it Whiskey or a cigar, the ability to take one on a flavour journey is an art. 

If you can track a bottle down, try it. 

 

[Pixa]

I will need to try this again, had a bottle 9 month ago and was the most disgusting whisky I have ever drank. Though it being single cask bottling it could be there is a lot of variance between casks as a lot seem to love it like you.

[Sunsmoke]

Perfect, I'm in Taiwan next weekend. Will pick up a bottle.... Or two!

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[JohnS]

It is a quality single malt, as you say, El Presidente. We opened a bottle at the end of a cigar get together in April this year to unanimous approval. 

[PapaDisco]

I love this whiskey and always grab a bottle when transiting through Taipei (although now it's available in the U.S. here and there).  You had the bourbon cask bottle, I usually pick up the sherry cask version (on account of the chicks dig it  ).  I always found the name of the distillery entertaining, "King Car Mfg Co."

For anyone who likes whiskeys from time to time, but find them a bit overpowering, I think Boubons are a natural fit.  Same high alcohol contents, but a different flavor profile that highlights a more fruit forward prominence to the experience.  Just my humble opinion of course . . . but I'm sure I'm right! 

[Lotusguy]

I'm a big fan - the port finished is a favorite with my friends that aren't such serious whiskey drinkers.

[Fuzz AI]

15 hours ago, JohnS said:

It is a quality single malt, as you say, El Presidente. We opened a bottle at the end of a cigar get together in April this year to unanimous approval. 

Unanimous approval? I think the words you were thinking of were, "Bloody awesome!!". Most gracious of you to crack that bottle open for us, John.