Tasting Notes

• Tasting Notes by Whiskyfun (Serge Valentin)

  Nose: on the one hand, this is more brutal and more peppery than the 1970, but on the other hand, it’s more honeyed and candied as well. Unexpected notes of strawberry jam, the general profile being seemingly rounder and fruitier than both the previous and the 2008 versions of the Talisker 25. Other than that we do have the traditional notes of pepper, seashells and apples, with a great beefiness (bouillon as well) and quite some almonds just like in the 1970.
  With water: yes it works very well! We’re getting closer to the 1970 now. More flowery notes, not so usual in Talisker (yellow flowers, nectar). Camphor and eucalyptus. Fantastic.

  Mouth (neat): I had thought that despite its very high profile, this one would be in trouble after the legendary 1970 but it’s not the case at all. Sure this is a little less ‘beautifully mingled’ and a little rougher but otherwise it’s a very rich, fruity, spicy and wonderfully oaky Talisker. It’s just a tad too powerful when neat, so let’s see what happens with water.
  With water: works well, the profile doesn’t change much (maybe a little more salt and more crystallised lemon) but it got more, say ‘drinkable’s.

  Finish: long, balanced, rich and very, very ‘Talisker’.

  Comments: a big, big dram but not lacking complexity, maybe thanks to the refill casks. SGP:546 – 92 points.

• Tasting Notes by TF

  Nose:  Wow.  Gorgeous, rich, sweet: golden syrup, brown sugar, sticky home-made gingerbread, with sweet oak lurking in the background, peat, white pepper.  Clearly a few top-quality sherry casks in the mix.  Just stunning.

  Palate:  Even better!  All the flavours from the nose, but with an extra smack of coal and dry peat, rounded by a fabulously delicate honeysuckle.  Full and rich, silky smooth but packing a great chewy, peppery punch.  The spices are perfect.

  Finish:  Long, strong and somehow manages to be both brash and graceful at the same time, like a ballerina with a Mohican.  The spices and the sherry are perfectly complemented by the succulent peat.

  Comment:  Phwoarr!!  This is sumptuous.

  TF 12/10/07