Talisker - Distillers Edition 2006-2016 - 45,8%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
It's been a few years since we tried this malt and were pleased by it. It was even one of our favorite whiskies, but we were not giving marks in those days. Much has happened since. Prince died, Princess Kate gave birth to a baby, Trump became president and Diageo released and 8 year old Talisker (one of the more important events to be frank). How have our taste buds evolve through the times?
Nose
Do you know this feeling, when you smell something, and an inner cinema starts to play. A feeling of coming back to a warm home after a cold day outside. This is what happens here: Salted caramel cookies, Manuka honey, sultanas, old apples and sea spray. We also find strong herbal notes of sage and thyme. Very sweet, thick and heavy aroma. It's really close to some old Glenfarclas now, but with a maritime touch. The sherry is speaking loudly, almost raging here.
Palate
Sweet, thick and heavy. Sultanins, roasted dates encased with bacon. Lots of bitter notes as dark chocolate, spiced with a lot of black pepper and some espresso. Really delicious. The peatness seems much stronger on the palate than on the nose. We remember it to be more complex and powerful, but weren't we young, foolish and ignorant?
Finish
Medium, with lemons, and bitter cocoa at the back of the tongue.
Rating
As we all know, empires rise and fall. This Talisker did neither. It's a really good and solid sherry peater with a very entertaining nose. Talisker and sherry work pretty well in our book. Even if the palate lacks some complexity, this is the dram to enjoy when sitting at the fireplace during a rough winter evening, while welcoming the new year 2019. With this in mind, Whisky Digest wishs you all a happy new year and a lot of good drams!
