Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask vs A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Kavalan Solist Amontillado CaskA Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)
DistilleryKavalanMaster of Malt
Region
CountryTaiwanScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV56.3%51.4%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£387.43£299.95
Rating5.00/5

Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness48/100
Beginner35/100
Value13/100

A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt) is better value at £300 vs £387.

For beginners: Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask is more approachable (35/100 beginner score).

Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (56.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£387.43 vs £299.95)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£299.95 vs £387.43)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (51.4%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Kavalan?

Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Who should buy A?

A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt) is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedDried Fruit

Only Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask

NuttyChocolateToasted

Only A Secret Islay Distillery 31 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokeyOld WoodTobacco

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