Talisker 8 Year Old Special Releases 2020 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 700ml
From a malt rich in maritime character, this adventurous release of Talisker is the first ever to be finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks. They have enlivened the marine scents and peppery punch of this Skye distillery’s colourful character with the rich, dark and exotic sweetness of warmer climes. Deep, caramel aromas are balanced by sea salt, dry seaweed and warm sand on a smoky barbecue base. The texture is smooth, the taste hugely rich and sweet before the classic Talisker heat builds with a dash of salt and chilli pepper to a smoky, peppery and drying finish. Matured since 2011.
Medium.
Long, hotly peppery and drying, finishing sweet and smoky with the typical Talisker chilli-pepper ‘catch’ in the swallow. With water more rounded but similar, leaving a thread of smoke on the tongue.
A light nose-feel with some prickle. The top notes are sweet and maritime, with hints of molasses and crystalline sugar vying with dry seaweed, crystal salt, and iodine, then ‘pear drop’ boiled fruit sweets below, on a smoky base with traces of charred meat. A drop of water softens the attack, increasing the maritime character, and reducing the sweet notes while introducing a hint of smoke.
A soft, smooth texture and a big taste; salty and especially, lightly sweet, before the full-on Talisker pepperiness takes over. Very drying. Water rounds it, softening the rich sweetness and bringing up the pepper, but the profile is similar.
Special Release 2020
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Delve into the limited annual collection of impeccably crafted, rare and precious natural cask strength Scotch whiskies from across our distilleries. Exquisitely collectible, these drams push the boundaries of flavour.
