Talisker; Wow!

[Luna56]

Bought this for a family member who insisted on opening it tonight just for a sniff. We poured a couple half-shots into some Glencairn glasses and, wow!

A bold and nicely structured Islay, I found this to be really fine. It's somewhere in between a Laphroaig and a Lagavulin, and is deep and rich with a slightly peppery finish. I'm getting one for myself tomorrow.

Cheers!

[Rughi]

I like the wonderful pepperiness and brininess that play with the peat in this Island malt from the Isle of Skye.

I just finished a 10yo that was a bit bland compared to similar 10yo bottlings from years past. Tim3 told me the tell-tale signs for the older box style, but I forget them now and haven't been fortunate enough to talk with him for some time.

Roger

[Megawatt]

Bought this for a family member who insisted on opening it tonight just for a sniff. We poured a couple half-shots into some Glencairn glasses and, wow!

A bold and nicely structured Islay, I found this to be really fine. It's somewhere in between a Laphroaig and a Lagavulin, and is deep and rich with a slightly peppery finish. I'm getting one for myself tomorrow.

Cheers!

Actually it's not an Islay. As Rughi mentioned, it's from the Isle of Skye.

Was it the 10 year old? That whisky helped me develop a taste for smokey malts. The 18 is simply divine.

[Luna56]

Actually it's not an Islay. As Rughi mentioned, it's from the Isle of Skye.

Was it the 10 year old? That whisky helped me develop a taste for smokey malts. The 18 is simply divine.

[Luna56]

Checked the website (beautifully done, by the way) and the 18 YO is there.

I'm on the hunt for some of the 18 YO. Anybody else tried it?

Cheers!

[Dramiel McHinson]

Talisker is a favorite of mine as well. If you can find a Distiller's Edition it's also very good. Actually, you can't go wrong with a Talisker if you like the smokey-peaty whiskies.

[Luna56]

Thanks for the tip!

Cheers!

[LeoDLion]

Next time try the Talisker 18 yrs old. Its much better and has a deeper taste.

[TBoner]

I really like the 18 a lot, but I actually think the 10 better expresses the distillery character: peppery and peaty with briny edges. The 18 is a bit richer and deeper, but at the expense of some of that marvelous spice. Both are superb pours and, for now, not priced out of range like many Diageo bottlings.

Regards,

Tim

[JamesW]

Checked the website (beautifully done, by the way) and the 18 YO is there.

I'm on the hunt for some of the 18 YO. Anybody else tried it?

Cheers!

The 18 yr old is probably my favorite dram most days. The peppery spice and toffee richness is sublime. I just killed off my bottle last night... it never lasts long in my house, this time it was open less than a week.

[Megawatt]

Screw the distillery character; the 18 is a better whisky! I'll be honest with you folks; I never really got the peppery note out of any Talisker I've tried. At least no more so than other smokey malts.

[Luna56]

I get a little of the peppery character upfront, not so much on the finish.

Going to look for the 18 in my travels, only the 10 is available here.

I'm digging the 10, though, it's a mighty fine pour.

Cheers!

[Megawatt]

I get a little of the peppery character upfront, not so much on the finish.

Going to look for the 18 in my travels, only the 10 is available here.

I'm digging the 10, though, it's a mighty fine pour.

Cheers!

Yeah, it's really fantastic stuff.

[Luna56]

After reading this thread I just had to pour myself one. It really is fantastic stuff. Big, solid flavors but not brash and in your face. Maybe a bit more approachable than Laphroaig 10 (and not as sweet) but it's a no-compromise dram.

It's making my cold feel better, too. Nice when that happens.

Cheers!

[Megawatt]

After reading this thread I just had to pour myself one. It really is fantastic stuff. Big, solid flavors but not brash and in your face. Maybe a bit more approachable than Laphroaig 10 (and not as sweet) but it's a no-compromise dram.

It's making my cold feel better, too. Nice when that happens.

Cheers!

I definitely prefer it to Laphroaig.

[Dramiel McHinson]

After reading this thread I just had to pour myself one. It really is fantastic stuff. Big, solid flavors but not brash and in your face. Maybe a bit more approachable than Laphroaig 10 (and not as sweet) but it's a no-compromise dram.

It's making my cold feel better, too. Nice when that happens.

Cheers!

Just for entertainment value, I thought I would post my Drammit Notes on Talisker 10 from a couple of years ago. I have since gained control of my emotions when drinking fine scotch. You can probably tell i liked it a lot too.

Nose:

At first nose one realizes this is a hearty whisky distilled by hardscrabble folk in an environment of stunning beauty and harsh climate. The nose is rich and well balanced on sweet heather and earthy peat. In the background is a complex layering of fresh picked Spring peppermint and well-worn sisal rope preserved with linseed oil. Far in the background is a saddle of fine leather. Tying it all together is a faint mist of smoke. This is a whisky for a strong gentleman and the kind of woman that can appreciate him.

Palate:

Sweet heavens to Betsy! This is some fine liquor! On the palate the attack is immediate with sweet warm fruit cobbler and spice. The peat bursts over the top washing away the sweetness, drying out the palate to reveal a smooth oak flavor. The second assault quickly makes way for the final assault at the finish.

Finish:

The finish is smooth and luxuriously warming with black pepper and spice slowly fading on smoked peat.

Notes:

One should undertake this fine Single Malt Scotch Whisky on an evening with a loved one. The weather should be chilled with a damp blanket of air. A good gale moaning against the eaves of the house will push you close as you discuss your interests with that special someone. This whisky is the courtship; blossoming love and conjugal act followed by a satisfying smoke and sweet dreams.

[voigtman]

I love both the 10 and 18, but the absolute best talisker I ever had was my 25 YO (bottled 2001, one of 6000 released) that I saved until early 2007, then shared with friends. The bottle didn't get re-corked ... Just stunning. All Taliskers are great, but save for that dearly departed 25, I would give the nod to the 18 over the current 10. If I remember right, there are at least 3 box styles for Talisker 10 in the past 10 years. I think the earliest ones has a map of Skye as the main graphic on the box.

[tritioch]

Anyone in NY, keep an eye on the price of Talisker. The distributor flushed a boatload of Distillers Edition, Family Pack, and 25yr at ludicrous pricing to some choice accounts. Talisker 25 was (wholesale) under $30/btl.... not that any store will be passing it along for that, but keep an eye out for the occasional price breaks.

[craigthom]

My favorite part of the Talisker tour is the display of the water they use, which is pale brown because of the peat in it.

I confess that part of my affection for Talisker is that I've been to the distillery. I've also been to Glenfiddich. I thought it was best not to stop at any more Speyside places that day (the stop at Walker's only satisfied my traveling companion a little).

I wanted to tour Glenmorangie when driving down from the far north, too, but a visit to the gift shop was all I could negotiate.

[dcb]

Talisker is one of my favorite singles, the 18 isn't available around here, only the 10, but it's a stellar whisky.

[smaugchow]

I have not seen a Talisker 18 in several months (Chicago area.) I have a fear that it is getting hard to find since Whisky magazine (UK) called it the best single malt available back in 2007. I hope it doesn't get the Macallan 18 treatment and get stupidly expensive.

I've got about a third of a bottle left and I save it for special occasions...like Thursdays. :grin: