The 6th release in Truth Malters Lunar Zodiac series: The Year of the Snake, is a cask of Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Malt Whisky. Drawn from Cask #001, this is Kavalan’s first-ever Fino sherry private cask, and it is 11 years old!

Matured in Spanish top quality oloroso sherry casks in special editions, Kavalan Solist Sherry is bottled at the distillery, without any colouring or chill-filtration. It is a naturally smooth and rich whisky with a complex character.

Introducing Kavalan’s Triple Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky, a distillery-first masterpiece that marries premium Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez (PX), and Moscatel-aged casks with Kavalan’s velvety spirit and signature sweetness. CEO Mr. YT Lee describes it as a distinct whisky boasting dried fruits, rich caramel, sweet maltose, and tropical fruits. Through a meticulous three-stage balancing craft, the whiskies matured in their respective casks meld together in perfect fusion, resulting in optimal smoothness and up to nine distinct sherry dimensions. Senior Blender Zerose Yang elaborates on its character, highlighting notes of cinnamon, candied smoked plum, citrus, berry, tropical fruit, and longan aromas, with playful dashes of honey, chocolate, and toffee on the palate. Like a smooth flamenco dance, Kavalan’s Triple Sherry Cask whisky is a symphony of flavor and complexity.

White rose petals, sandalwood, and powdered sugar emanate from the glass. The sharp yet elegant palate is filled with zesty citrus, white chocolate, and a hint of clove. A velvety texture coats the mouth, leading to a long, satisfying finish of dried fruits and warm spices.

The sweet vanilla aroma is echoed on the palate, where it's accompanied by perky pops of allspice, ginger and clove heat, gliding into a smooth finish tinged with almond. This is a blend of bourbons aged between three and six years. Kara Newman

Batch #12, blended by Rhea, features a unique mix of well-aged, bold bourbons: 7- to 14-year-old bourbons combined with two different 4-year-old bourbons. The nose reveals sweet spice and caramel with a hint of butterscotch, offering a long, pleasant aroma. The palate presents a warm rush of spice, robust caramel, and cream, melting into passion fruit and spicy citrus notes. The finish is long and satisfying, with lingering caramel and cream. Batch #12 is bottled at 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV).

The Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Limited Edition is an exclusive release crafted by finishing an 11-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey in Bayou Rum XO Casks for over a year. This unique whiskey, celebrating Mardi Gras and Louisiana pride, is bottled at 102.8 proof (51.4% ABV). On the nose, it offers robust toasted rye bread notes with farm-fresh sweet butter, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. The palate is rich with flavors of rye whiskey and sweet butter whipped with allspice, culminating in a smooth finish with sweet, buttery notes and a warming nutmeg coda.

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey is a blended Irish whiskey known for its smooth, malty character and warming finish, resulting from a blend of malt and grain whiskies. It's double distilled, which is less common for Irish whiskey, but contributes to its robust flavor profile. The whiskey features aromas of honey, vanilla, and toasted wood, with flavors of vanilla, cereal, and spice. It's often enjoyed neat, in Irish coffee, or in cocktails. 

This whisky is matured in re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts, and bourbon barrels. After maturation, a few drops of water are added to achieve a batch strength of 57% abv. The result is a monumental dram that marries Kilchoman's natural peat smoke and citrus character with notes of dark fruits, rich spices, and salted caramel sweetness.

The whisky pours a vibrant pale gold, greeting the senses with a captivating aroma of smoke and brine, evoking memories of a seaside bonfire. Delving further, one discovers subtle notes of crisp apple, lemon peel, dried heather, and honey interwoven seamlessly. On the palate, it offers a smooth and pleasantly warm sensation, showcasing a delightful balance of sweet and smoky flavors.

Named after the river that meanders through the estate, this whisky offers a medium level of peatiness. Its antique gold hue invites exploration, while the nose entices with notes of wet stone, delicate peat smoke, refreshing mint, and dried florals. On the palate, experience a harmony of mineral essence, zesty citrus, and dark chocolate atop a medium-bodied foundation, culminating in a fleeting burst of hot pepper on the finish.

The Sauternes Cask Matured limited edition from Kilchoman has been fully matured in ex-Sauternes wine casks, offering a remarkable balance of buttery sweetness, barbecued pineapple, candied ginger, and floral peat smoke. Selected by Kilchoman Founder Anthony Wills, this whisky combines the natural peat smoke and citrus character of Kilchoman with layers of dark fruits, rich spices, and salted caramel sweetness. The nose presents creamy, buttery notes with ripe fruits and subtle peat smoke, while the palate features butterscotch, floral notes, and tropical fruits, all carried by integrated peat smoke. The finish is sweet and balanced, with lingering smoke and a rich texture.

Nose: Rich and fruity with notes of ripe apples, pears, and a hint of citrus. Subtle hints of vanilla and oak.

Taste: Smooth and well-balanced. Sweet flavors of caramel and toffee, followed by a gentle spiciness of cinnamon and nutmeg. Slight undertones of dried fruits and a touch of honey.

Palate: Creamy and velvety texture. The flavors of vanilla and oak are more pronounced, accompanied by a delicate smokiness. A long and warming finish with a lingering sweetness.

Expect a burnished gold hue and fresh apple scent. The palate opens distinctly sweet, with salted caramel, rum raisin and baked-apple tones, but finishes gently with ginger spice and vanilla.

The "Kirkland 8 Year Whisky - Year of the Horse" likely refers to a special edition of Kirkland's popular 8-Year-Old Blended Scotch, bottled by Alexander Murray, featuring special Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse) packaging, offering soft vanilla, caramel, oak spice, and a hint of peat on the nose/palate, known for its excellent value and smooth, easy-drinking profile.

Coca-Cola, rich spice, dark chocolate, roasted walnuts, licorice root, maple syrup, Luxardo cherries, and varnish on the nose. Without water, the palate is chewy and full of puckering tannins; add a few drops to unleash dark chocolate, candied ginger, cooked berries, tea leaf, walnuts in maple syrup, black pepper, and a hint of orange oil. The lengthy finish offers chocolate-covered cherries, black tea leaves, and white pepper. Layered and engaging.

Knob Creek Rye is a 100-proof (50% ABV) whiskey known for its balance of traditional rye spice with signature Knob Creek sweetness. It has a copper color and aromas of spicy rye, caramel, and oak, with a palate that features notes of vanilla, black pepper, and citrus, leading to a medium-length finish with lingering spice and dryness. This whiskey is versatile, suitable for sipping neat or in cocktails.

Knob Creek Small Batch is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey known for its "patiently aged" and "small batch" production methods, bottled at 100 proof. It's crafted with high-quality rye, resulting in a spicy, smooth flavor, often enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned. The whiskey is aged in deep-charred barrels, contributing to its robust flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruits.

"Whiskey first, flavoring second in this bottle. The alcohol presence comes through early on the nose and palate (it's 90 proof, after all), followed by undercurrents of maple and vanilla. It finishes with flourishes of spice and heat, with a welcome orange-peel note. If you're seeking a quality flavored Bourbon that will stand up to mixing, here it is." - 92/100, Wine Enthusiast

Koval Millet Whiskey is a unique, certified organic, single-grain, single-barrel whiskey made from 100% millet in Chicago, offering a naturally gluten-free spirit with nutty vanilla, caramel, fruit, and roasted millet notes, known for its creamy texture, clean profile, and warm, fruity finish, produced with artisanal care by KOVAL Distillery.

Kujira Ryukyu Single Grain Whisky 10 years was distilled from 100% premium Indica rice and matured in White Oak Virgin casks for more than 10 years.Nose: Rich and sweet butter with caramel, spices from sapwood like bourbon whisky.

Palate: sweet and buttery, like caramel, roasted wood, liquorice. With an extinguish taste of spice such as cloves and cinnamon.
Finish: bitterness with long finish of spices, that brings back the sweetness

Nose: Rich and inviting with notes of caramel, vanilla, and honey. Subtle hints of oak and spice.

Taste: Smooth and velvety on the palate. Sweet flavors of toffee, butterscotch, and dark chocolate. Spicy undertones of cinnamon and cloves.

Palate: Full-bodied and well-balanced. Creamy mouthfeel with a touch of nuttiness. Lingering finish with a gentle warmth and a touch of sweetness.

Nose: Smoky, with notes of charred oak, campfire, and toasted spices.
Taste: Rich and robust, with flavors of smoked malt, dark chocolate, and black pepper.
Palate: Full-bodied and velvety, with a lingering smoky finish and hints of caramel and vanilla.

It’s a brave person who tries to persuade a malt like Lagavulin to go into a different direction. Indeed, even PX casks, from the sweetest fortified wine of all, can’t fully obscure the distillery’s character, just give it a raisined coating. The creosote turns to tar and licorice, while there’s Syrah-like sootiness, and damson. This release is slightly less sweet than in the past and is the better for it, though I still prefer my Lagavulin relatively ‘naked.’

With a bold and smoky aroma, this whisky captivates the senses with sweet spice, dried dark fruit, caramel, tar, brine, and toasted nuts. On the palate, it delivers richness, sweetness, and smoothness, unveiling robust flavors of smoky campfire, cumin, molasses, and peat, accompanied by hints of apple crumble and spice.