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Talisker
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Talisker, 175th Anniversary Edition (Scotland) 
To commemorate Talisker distillery’s 175th anniversary in 2005 a special, limited edition expression of the Skye single malt was issued by Diageo. Talisker 175 carries no age statement and consists of a release of 60,000 bottles worldwide. It is largely the work of Diageo’s Maureen Robinson, who says that some of the oldest component malts date back to the mid 1970s, while the youngest are at least ten years old. According to Talisker distillery manager Charlie Smith, “It has all the elements of Talisker but in slightly different proportions to those in the ten or the 25-year-old. It’s unmistakably Talisker, and one of the easiest drinking Taliskers I’ve tasted.” Complex on the nose, with sweetness overlying smoke. Elegant heather and Bourbon notes in the background. Sweet and smoky on the palate, coconut, spices and a hint of liquorice. Long and slightly salty in the finish, with insistent smoke. Lacking some of the pepperiness usually associated with Talisker. 45.8% ABV, 70cl, £55, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Talisker, 18-Year-Old (Scotland)
Powerful yet mellow on the nose, sweet and slightly smoky, this is clearly a whisky that offers both individual character and refinement. The palate opens with sweet, fruity notes that deepen and gradually become more assertive, with hints of a smouldering peat fire. The finish is rich and sophisticated, as befits a whisky that has spent 18 years in good wood. However, that classic Talisker peppery kick is there at the last just to reassure you this is indeed the iconic malt from Skye. In a word – superb! 45.8% ABV, 70cl, £36.50, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 25-Year-Old (Scotland)
One of Diageo's Special Releases for 2005. The only distillery on the Isle of Skye, Talisker opened in 1830, and much of the present establishment dates from a rebuild which followed a still house fire in 1960. Like Lagavulin, Talisker is one of Diageo’s six ‘Classic Malts’. Earthy, pungent, bonfire smoke and some pepper. Becoming softer and more floral. On the palate it offers a big initial attack, with a complex mix of spice, malt and floral notes, not forgetting that characteristic Talisker pepperiness. Lingering and aromatic in the finish. 15,600 bottles produced.
57.2% ABV, 70cl, £105, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 25-year-old (Diageo Special Releases 2009) (Scotland)
The seventh release of 25-year-old Talisker comprises whiskies matured in a mixture of European oak casks and refill American oak casks. The nose offers vibrant fruit, damp tweed, smoke, oak and ginger. Elastoplast and subtle vanilla with the addition of water. The palate is notably bold, with powerful chili and black pepper hits, followed by peat and brine. The finish is long and peppery.
(5,862 bottles)
54.8% ABV, 70cl, £160.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 25-Year-Old Special Release (Scotland)
Matured in refill American oak casks, this Isle of Skye malt is a classic in any guise, and the 2006 Special Release offers an earthy, peaty nose, with sweet fruits, heather and some wood smoke. It is characteristically ebullient and mouth-filling. The ‘lava of the Cuillins’ is in fine form here, smoky and oily, with spices and typical Talisker pepper on the tongue, plus an intriguing hint of fruity sweetness. The lengthy finish combines smouldering peat, black pepper and more of that fresh fruit sweetness. Finally, the pepper just gains the upper hand.
Talisker is one of those indispensable malts, without which a winter fireside seat is incomplete. If you are only familiar with the excellent 10-year-old Classic Malt then this complex 25-year-old should be essential drinking, despite its price tag. 4,860 bottles.
56.9% ABV, 70cl, £105.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 25-year-old, Diageo Special Releases 2008 (Scotland)
This is the 11th 25-year-old bottling of the Skye single malt, and it has been matured in a mix of American oak and European oak refill casks.
Sweet and rich on the nose, with lots of smoky notes, heather and soft toffee, backed up by characteristic Talisker pepperiness and a faint whiff of the sea. The palate is big and slightly oily, with malt, milk chocolate, spice and lots of peat. The finish is lengthy and drying, with chilli and peat smoke.
(6,708 bottles).
54.2% ABV, 70cl, £129.95, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 30-year-old (Diageo Special Releases 2009) (Scotland)
As with the 25-year-old, this 30-year-old Talisker, the fourth ‘edition’ from Diageo released in 2009, has been matured in refill American oak casks and European oak casks. Almonds, vanilla fudge and gentle smoke on the nose. The palate is smooth and fruity, with hints of vanilla. Less of a blunt instrument than that of the 25-year-old, yet retaining all of Talisker’s characteristic fire in the belly, with no shortage of pepper. Big, confident, citric chili notes linger for a very long time in the finish.
(3,000 bottles)
53.1% ABV, 70cl, £210.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, 30-year-old, Diageo Special Releases 2008 (Scotland)
As with the 25-year-old, above, this bottling has been matured in American oak and European oak refill casks.
The nose is surprisingly fresh and lively, considering the age of the whisky, with beguiling floral notes, lots of fruit and less overt peat than its younger sibling. Leather and heather! Big and sweet in the mouth, with Sherry and spices, plus developing peat smoke and a slight tang of salt. The finish is long, honeyed, and less dry than the 25-year-old. Persistently spicy, with delicate herbs and gentle wood. Sophisticated and exquisitely drinkable.
(less than 3,000 bottles).
49.5% ABV, 70cl, £204.95, specialist whisky merchants. | |
Talisker, 57 Degrees North (Scotland)
The latest expression of Talisker is named in recognition of the fact that Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye has an unusually high latitude, and it becomes the only regularly available ‘full strength’ version of the acclaimed island malt. The whisky carries no age statement, but brand owner Diageo confirms it has been matured exclusively in American oak refill casks.
The nose offers a very attractive blend of rich, spicy fruit and smoke from a bonfire beside the sea. With time, the fruit fades somewhat, and spent matches appear. Perhaps they were used to light the bonfire! Full-bodied and warming on the complex palate, with initially intense fruitiness followed by increasing smoky spice and pepper notes. Water teases out sweet peat and barley sugar. The finish is long and gently smoky, with characteristic Talisker chilli powder lingering to the very end. Another cracker from the shores of Loch Harport!
57.0% ABV, 100cl, £43.99, Duty Free & Travel Retail. |  |
Talisker, Distillers Edition 1989 (Scotland)
A fruity aroma, with boiled sweets and butterscotch. Bold and confident in the mouth, a big, profound whisky with black treacle and dry Sherry. It dries slowly and determinedly, with quite (attractive) acrid notes and a hint of maltiness at the end. Bottled 2002.
45.8% ABV, 70cl, £36.50, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, Distillers Edition 1991 (Scotland)
Prunes, toffee and something very slightly fishy on the nose. Another big, dominant dram like the 1989, mouth-coating, with treacle, malt and a suggestion of full cream milk. The finish is long, quite fruity, and pleasing as it slowly dries. Bottled 2004. 45.8% ABV, 70cl, £36.50, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Talisker, Manager's Choice 1994 (Scotland)
A Bodega Sherry European Oak cask fill, with a lovely nose of warm, worn leather and exotic spices. Peatier with the addition of water. Early citrus fruits on the palate give way to sweeter apples; then characteristic Talisker peat and black pepper come through. Sweeter and nuttier with water. The lengthy finish exhibits lots of smouldering peat and insistent spices.
(582 bottles)
58.6% ABV, 70cl, £300.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
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