Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak Whisky
Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak Whisky is a 750mL Taiwanese single malt bottled at 46% ABV, matured exclusively in ex-bourbon American white oak casks — stripped, toasted and re-charred — at Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County, Taiwan. The brand itself describes it as the Solist ex-Bourbon liquid diluted to 46% with distillery spring water, for a sweeter, silkier profile — the house describes it as sweet, silky and smooth. It carries no age statement; Yilan's subtropical heat does the maturing work quickly. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: No age statement
- Casks: Ex-bourbon oak casks
- Origin: Kavalan Distillery (King Car Group), Yuanshan, Yilan County, Taiwan (est. 2005)
Bourbon Wood, Taiwanese Sun
King Car founded Kavalan in 2005 — Taiwan's first whisky distillery — and ran its first spirit in March 2006, with founder Tien-Tsai Lee pursuing world-class single malt in a subtropical climate most distillers would call impossible. Ex-Bourbon Oak shows why the experiment works: American bourbon barrels give up vanilla, coconut and honey fast under Yilan's heat, and the spirit emerges tropical and silky years ahead of a Scottish schedule. This is the approachable bottling of that cask programme — the Solist's sibling, proofed for smoothness. Explore the distillery on the Kavalan vendor page, or browse our whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Fresh vanilla and sweet coconut lead, with tropical fruit — pineapple up front — honey, citrus and a frame of American oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over a single cube; the vanilla-coconut profile also shines in a whisky sour riff. More Taiwanese single malts are in our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak and Solist Ex-Bourbon?
They share the ex-bourbon cask source. Solist Ex-Bourbon is a single-barrel, cask-strength bottling (roughly 51–60% ABV depending on the barrel); Ex-Bourbon Oak is proofed down to 46% ABV for a sweeter, silkier drink.
What proof is Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak?
92 proof (46% ABV), 750mL.
How old is Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak?
It carries no age statement — Taiwan's subtropical maturation runs fast, and Kavalan bottles this expression on flavour rather than years.
Silk, vanilla and tropical sun — order Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.