From Diageo's Special Release 2019 series comes a particularly marvellous 15 year old Talisker! Matured in freshly charred American oak hogsheads, it's got spice, sweetness, smoke and sea breeze running through it - and looks like the coastal notes are reflected on the label (in keeping with the 'Rare by Nature' theme of the 2019 Special Releases).
This is the first ever Talisker to be released as a 15 year old matured exclusively in new charred American oak hogsheads. A delicious expression, if somewhat tamed aromatically: All the key distillery notes are present, building on the nose with coastal freshness, old rock pools and kelp, plus a deeper, sweeter honeyed/lanolin aspect interchanging with baked citrus and whisps of smoke. It's big but not overpowering; Fisherman’s Friends, peppercorns and sweet malt climax in a tangy, salty burst, with hints of char grilled pineapple and lanolin through the finish. The aftertaste is finely astringent, long and spicy. Very satisfying.
Nose: A seaweed iodine note is the first to spring from the glass – but it’s sunny and inviting, not industrial and heavy. Kelloggs Cornflakes, honey-roasted cashews, tangy cinnamon, warm nutmeg, and caramel notes build on the sense of sunshine, while an undercurrent of peat smoke brings depth. Water rounds it all out a bit and gives more of a velvety impression.
Palate: The rush of sweetness is a real surprise – on the front of the palate there are peach notes, raisin and perhaps red cherry. Then it’s all about that rich spice, along with the peat – a delicious abutment of pepper heat, bright allspice and rolling smoke. With water, it gets even sweeter and a little quieter, but still really tasty and mouth-filling.
Finish: Long and rich, but with a happy lightness, too.
Other reviews.... Marzipan, damp tweed, cooking chocolate, and white pepper on the nose, with light iodine and peat notes. Notably sweet on the palate, with fleshy oranges, peaches, cocoa powder, woodsmoke, and peppery peat. The finish is medium to long, with quite restrained Talisker pepperiness. 91 points
- whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2019)
Isle of Skye, Scotland
57.3% | 700ml
Drop Club
VIC Packaged Liquor Licences - 32067634
