Drink Like a Billionare...
My brother says that the Thais just may have beat the Scots at their own game with Kavalan’s Olorsoso Sherry Oak cask whisky. He's knows his whisky, he's even made his own. Still, I won’t got that far, but it is pretty damned good. He says he discovered the stuff watching Billions – so you know it is money... at least the imaginary kind. So in a mix of hubris and curiosity got on line and ordered a bottle.
Since releasing their firs whisky in 2008, Kavalan has collected some epic reviews and in 2016 made the Sherry oak one of its permanent expressions. Wise move.
Like some of those fine Japanese whiskies, Scotch is the starting point, but Kavalan has made this whisky its own. The profile is closer to a lowland malt, not one of those smoky, peaty numbers - this is like Scotch Whisky made with traditional Southeast Asian ingredients - like lemongrass. True, you don't associate lemongrass with whisky, but what do you know about making whisky? They are not going for those big, booming whiskies. It’s got a great flavor, lighter and warmer than you might think, with more body that heat. Like the Scots, the secret appears to be the use of Kavalan spring water, so there is no use of chill filtering or coloring – that’s just the sherry oak casks.
So head into the Labor Day weekend drinking like a Billionaire – or at least a guy who plays one on TV.