Kavalan Podium 46% NV

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (85)

This one’s matured partly in new oak and partly in refill Kavalan, so that’s more or less the cognac recipe (last time I checked you can’t use casks that have contained other liquids in cognac). Colour: gold. Nose: very close to the King Car. To tell you the truth, I find both almost undistinguishable on the nose. Maybe does this one have a little more custard indeed, but beyond that… Mouth: they’re rather different now. This Podium starts fruitier (bananas and plums, typical virgin US oak) and rather smoother and oilier (Benriach may have been benchmarked, if you ask me). Then more light honey and maple syrup, coconut water, and vanilla-ed buttercream. I have to say this goes down very well. Finish: rather long. The oak shows a bit but we’re way below the limits. Comments: not a huge lot happening on the nose but the palate’s pretty perfect. A consensual modern style that simply works a treat