Talisker 10 Year

TALISKER SHOWDOWN REDUX Talisker Storm Talisker 10 Talisker Distiller’s Edition Talisker 18 (Last reviewed 9/30/23) It’s cool in Connecticut. Chilly, even. Cool means fire. Fire means smoke. Smoke means Scotch whisky. And tonight that’s Talisker. Talisker Storm Honey, smoky peat, pumpkin pie, apricot, kelp, iodine, sea salt. Lightly viscous in the mouth with a honey and peppercorns morphing into a long finish with honey, pear, smoke, vanilla, cured meat, and char. I like the Storm more each time I try it. Not only are the aromatics and flavors powerful and complex, but it’s bottled at 45.8% ABV (vs 43% for average “better” whiskies), which enhances the aesthetics. It’s the least expensive of the lineup, and can be found between $60-$70. Would I buy it again? Yes. 3.75 on the Distiller scale. NAS. The light color suggests that there is no coloring added, though neither the bottle nor website mention this. 45.8% ABV. Talisker 10 Like the Storm, but with the dial turned up. Lots of sweet (honey, apricot, pear) along with peaty smoke. Similar viscosity to the Storm. Long finish with pepper, vanilla, char, saline. I cannot believe that I rated this 4.0 two years ago (especially considering my history with this whisky; I’ve always loved it). The official 96 rating from Distiller is apt; we’re approaching rarified air here. Talisker 10 can be had for $70-80. Would I buy it again? Aye. It’s a tremendous whisky value. 4.5+ on the Distiller scale. 10-year age statement. 45.8% ABV. Talisker Distiller’s Edition Darker than the Storm and 10-year due to the sherry-cask finishing. I could copy-paste my previous notes, as the impression is the same, so I will: “Wonderfully complex nose shows chocolate-covered cherries, bacon jam, a whiff of cool menthol, and evident vanilla, which suppresses (but does not eliminate) the smoky peat of the 10-year. The palate has a little glycerin, honey, dried orange peel, liquified pralines, and Honey-Nut Cheerios. A gentle spiciness leads to a slightly smoky peat, some leather dryness, and a cereal note.” Diageo owns Talisker (and Lagavulin, Oban, and several other whisky brands), and its “Distiller’s Edition” adds sherry-cask aging to each. In the case of Talisker, the 10-year is double-matured in Amoroso casks. It retails for $80-$90. Would I buy it again? Affirmative. And I’ll need to, because I just polished off that bottle. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 10-year age statement (distilled 2009; bottled 2019). 45.8% ABV. Talisker 18 Pomander, speck, and smoke, but the smokiness is tamped down by the sweetness. Not only honeyed like the other expressions, but carrying a crème brûlée caramelized-sugar aspect as well. If the 10-year is the Storm with the volume turned up, then the 18-year is the 10-year with the dial turned down a bit, but in a direction that’s more complex and assured. White pepper on the finish, along with bacon jam. Talisker 18 is more of a special-occasion whisky. It is an aged whisky from the Isle of Skye which shows the power of the ocean with the finesse of 18 years of aging. Tasted blind, it would not come across as energetic as the others. Would I buy it again? As long as I had the discretionary income, yes. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 18-yr age statement. 45.8% ABV, consistent with the other Talisker expressions here. The Storm clearly has the youngest flavor profile of the group. The 10-year is the winner here; it is a combination of the strength of youth and the complexity of age. The Distiller’s Edition is nice, but the 10-year already has plenty of sweetness. And the 18 is very good, but it’s more mellow and restrained. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Talisker 10 — My Review From the very first nose, Talisker 10 instantly takes me back to the rugged coast where I grew up. It smells like a musky saltiness — seaweed near a smoked kipper factory — the kind of place where wet dogs shake off sea spray and rain beside salty, mineral-rich rocks. There’s a deep maritime character that’s bracing and alive. On sipping, I get an immediate hit of salt that’s powerful and pure. This quickly starts to mellow into a gentle smokiness — not overwhelming, but perfectly balanced. Then the dram finishes with a lovely musky, peppery warmth that lingers, still loaded with salt. The finish is long, peppery, and keeps the sea breeze alive on my palate. Talisker 10 is beautiful — truly spectacular. It’s a whisky I always want to keep on my shelf. For me, it’s more than just a drink; it’s a sensory connection to Peel, Isle of Man, and memories of walking dogs along the beach in wet weather with the sea air thick around me. The whisky captures the feeling of standing on the breakwater on a cold, windy day — raw, elemental, and alive. Every time I pour a dram, Talisker offers something familiar but never quite the same. It’s complex, evocative, and emotional. It’s not just a whisky; it’s a piece of home in a glass.

This whisky, which has been left open for over two years, may have lost its original aroma. Unfortunately, since I didn’t take notes when I first tasted it, I can’t recall how much it has oxidized or how it originally was. At first, a “dry” smoky scent hits the nose. There’s also a sharp yet faint aroma in the background. As soon as you take a sip, that dry scent translates directly into a similar sensation in the mouth. This is immediately followed by a creamy and lemony flavor that leaves a tingling and burning sensation on the lips and in the mouth. The burning in the throat comes after the dryness and lingers for quite some time.

Total Score : 3.12 [Eng] [Nose] - Caramel and vanilla is leading scent. - Very little alcohol smell and spiciness. - Oily scent. - Shallow nutty scent. - Smooth peat scent. - Salty, funky smoky and barbecue scent from empty glass. [Palete] - A slipperiness that glides over inside my mouth. - The umami and sweet taste that comes from the definite salty taste. - The briny scent of the sea. [Finish] - Smooth - No spiciness. [Kor] [Nose] - 캐러멜과 바닐라가 주도적. - 알콜향이나 스파이시함은 거의 없음. - 기름 같은 오일리한 향. - 얕은 견과류향. - 부드러운 피트. - 빈잔의 짜고 경쾌한 스모키함과 바비큐향. [Palete] - 매끄러움. - 확실한 짠맛에서 오는 감칠맛과 단맛. - 바다향 [Finish] - 부드러운 넘김. - 스파이시함은 없음.

Im bot a big fan of peaty scotches. But this one surprised me. Very pleasent and smoky with a black pepper tinge. The peat hits last so that’s probably why i like it as it is subtle. Who knows, if i find some orher drams that progressively being more peat my way, i may grow to like it. For now though, i like this and Storm just fine.

Strong flavourful, ooze of spirit and peat. Taste so stong it goes peppery. Probably could need some water if your going to enjoy it a longer time, but I am not- so like it as it is.