Type of Whisky: Talisker 18 Year Old
Producer: Diageo
Distillery: Talisker
Whisky Type: Single Malt Scotch (100% malted barley)
Region: Highlands (Sub-region: Islands)
Age: 18 years
ABV: 45.8%
Cask: ex-bourbon and ex-sherry
Price Range: $$$
The Talisker distillery was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill on the shores of Loch Harport in Carbost, Isle of Skye. The Distillers Company Limited (now Diageo) bought the distillery from Dailuaine-Talisker Distillers Company in 1916. Today Talisker is part of the Classic Malts series from Diageo and enjoys a cult status among whisky connoisseurs for its distinctive volcanic style.
Now the Tasting Notes for Talisker 18 Year Old
Talisker is known for its boldness. Similar to Laphroaig, you either love it or hate it. There is no other way around it.
The malt has gone up significantly in price. I remember buying it for $90 a few years ago, but now it is priced at around $140 in the state of Georgia. This expression is bottled at 45.8% ABV and matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Here are the tasting notes for Talisker 18 Year Old.
Nose: Beautiful and delicate fruity and iodine nose with pepper and peat.
Palate: A fruity and rich arrival. Salt and pepper. Peat and smoke also appear but are restrained. These two seem to build in the mid-palate and take you to the final act.
Adding a few drops of water brings up bitter notes from the oak and does not do it for me because it changes the balance between sweetness, peat, and smoke.
Finish: Very Long. The pepper, peat, salt, and smoke that started timidly in the mid-palate exploded in the finish. All I can say about this malt is Wow!
Conclusion: A malt that starts with fruit notes, slowly develops into restrained peat and smoke, and finishes showing its power and complexity in the finish with an explosion of pepper, smoke, and peat.
Talisker 18 Year Old is a balanced malt and has been one of my favorite distilleries during my visit in 2015. I like this single malt neat more than with water because it takes away from the core flavors.
How does Talisker 18 Year Old compare to Talisker 57º North?
The latter will reveal bolder pepper, peat, and smoke flavors faster in the mid-palate than in Talisker 18 Year Old, which takes its time developing the experience. Nonetheless, both malts are fantastic, and both keep the salty and seaweed character of the distillery throughout the experience. Both are highly recommended if you like malts that are bold and complex.
Talisker 57º North Review: https://thewhiskyknights.com/talisker-57-north-scotch-whisky/
Score: 4.5/5⭐
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Legend
$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$
