A combination of sweetness and power from the Isle of Skye.
Amber.
Rich and fruity Victoria plums, greengages, perhaps dried orange peel with some butterscotch or rum toffee and a thread of smoke behind.
Full bodied, pleasant and smooth.
Sweet in front, then more assertive, with a whiff of smoke. The overall effect is warming. The development is towards smoke, coal-tar and toffee.
Medium length with the characteristic chilli 'catch' in the finish.
Distillery: TaliskerTM
Age: 18 years old
Strength: 45.8% ABV
Place of Origin: Isle of Skye
Region: Island
in brief… Sweetness and power, with less smoke and chilli than younger expressions.
in a sentence… Unmistakably Talisker; mild-mannered and sweet to begin with, then more assertive, warming and smoky.
Rich and fruity – Victoria plums, greengages, perhaps dried orange peel – with some butterscotch or rum toffee and a thread of smoke behind. The smoke soon advances into the foreground and the toffee note is joined by a light mintiness. With water, appropriately, maritime characteristics emerge - dry boat varnish, edible seaweed. Still sweet; now with notes of iodine and the smokiness of an un-struck match.
2007 - 2008, 2011
2007 - 2008
2005
2007 - 2008
2006
2012
"Toffee and rich peat smoke on the nose. The alcohol bite on the palate gives way to rich sweet peat smoke, some sea notes and plenty of peppery spice. Nicely rounded and complete. Some wood, too, suggesting its age. Like chewing honeycomb and smoky bacon at the same time. Long, spicy and peaty finish. Whisky doesn't get much finer than this."
Dominic Roskrow, World Whiskies Awards 2007
"A sophisticated and refined Talisker, if that’s not an oxymoron. But this is certainly true when compared to the 10 year old. This 18 year old is deeper too, with less of the fishnets, more of oak boat docks. Less lemongrass, more fruit gum drops. There’s still that knock-out punch on the finish. There’s a fine line between polishing the rough edges of a beautifully powerful whisky and ripping its heart and soul out with a knife by dumbing it down. This whisky has not crossed that line. A fabulous whisky!"
John Hansell, Whisky Advocate Fall 2005