🥃 Maverick – Tasting Notes

Tasting Card Version

Distillery / Region: Nantou (Taiwan) — SMWS code 138

Age: 5 years

Cask Type: First-fill American oak

ABV: 60.2% (cask strength)

Outturn: 210 bottles (Canada Exclusive)

Maverick lives up to its name — a bold Taiwanese single malt from Nantou Distillery that delivers tropical punch, toasted sweetness, and spice. It’s young, daring, and unforgettable.

Nose: Pineapple upside-down cake, coconut cream, dried mango, jasmine petals

Palate: Creamy oak, grilled peaches, roasted nuts, cracked white pepper, orange oil

Finish: Long and oily, with tropical spice, toasted vanilla, and lingering citrus zest

Food Pairing:

• Grilled pineapple skewers, coconut prawns, Thai mango salad
• Brie, baked camembert, or honey-drizzled goat cheese
• Bonus: Crème brûlée or dark chocolate with candied ginger

Detailed Write‑Up

Distillery & Release Story

Maverick is SMWS bottling 138.19, from Nantou Distillery in central Taiwan — home of Omar Whisky. Though still a relative newcomer globally, Nantou has made waves with its richly flavoured drams aged in Taiwan’s tropical climate. High humidity and heat mean faster maturation, and even at 5 years, this whisky is layered and lush.

This release matured in first-fill American oak barrels, drawing out decadent notes of vanilla, coconut, and grilled fruit. Only 210 bottles were produced — exclusively for Canada — making it a rare treat for adventurous whisky lovers.

The name “Maverick” reflects both the whisky’s bold character and the distillery’s independent spirit — breaking norms, embracing climate-driven maturation, and showing the world that great whisky doesn’t need age… it needs attitude.

Tasting Experience

From the first swirl, you’ll notice tropical intensity: pineapple upside-down cake, coconut cream, dried mango, and soft florals waft from the glass.

On the palate, this dram is creamy, spicy, and playful — grilled peaches, orange oil, and roasted nuts meet fresh oak and cracked pepper, all wrapped in warm vanilla tones from the cask.

The finish is long and vibrant, echoing toasted spice, tropical oils, and a zesty flourish that lingers like a summer sunset.

Serving Tips

Pour neat into a tulip or Glencairn glass. At 60.2% ABV, a splash of water reveals more floral and dessert-like aromas while softening the spice. This makes a great opening dram for a tasting, especially with guests new to Asian whisky.

Food Pairings & Talking Points

Ideal Pairings:

• Savoury: Thai mango salad, coconut shrimp, grilled peach salsa
• Cheese: Brie, soft goat cheese with honey, baked camembert
• Sweet: Crème brûlée, pineapple cake, dark chocolate with candied ginger

Conversation Hooks:

• “Did you know Taiwan’s humid climate ages whisky 2–3x faster than in Scotland?”
• “This dram is a maverick — breaking rules, bringing tropics to the whisky world.”
• “One of only 210 bottles — exclusively bottled for Canada.”