Talisker Dark Storm

First there was Storm. Now there is Dark Storm. It has taken me a long time to track down a dram of Dark Storm. Originally released as a TRE I understand this is a very sought after bottling. What I am very unclear on is how it is different to Storm. All I can find is that the Dark Storm uses heavily charred barrels, but that supposed to be what the Storm is; a blend of old and young finished in re-charred barrels. Hmm, perhaps then the Dark Storm is the reference to “the peatiest whisky Talker produces”. N: Straight in with the good stuff… rich, deep, and evocative. Earthy and slightly mineral undertones deliver a unfolding smoke with a hint of oiliness and a tiny touch of floral intrigue. A peppery and slightly tannic prickle is interesting and mingles with slightly sweet pear and an emergent charred BBQ ends. A storm is indeed brewing… P: Mouth coating and full with a slight oiliness that holds the palate firmly in place. Smoke is wonderfully enveloping, warm and powerful with red chilli, briny oysters, a hint of iodine or band-aids. This big entry is backed by a fruity berry sweetness, honeyed-malt, preserved lemon peel(?), and gentle tannic spice. F: Long and changing. The bonfire stays present against a briny sea spray and hits with cracked pepper to chilli heat, some toasty malt, a somewhat astringent tannic-toffee and bright fruity notes. This finish keeps on giving. It has been suggested to me that Dark Storm is a good equivalent to the 2021 8 y/o sea fury special edition. So, I opted to pull up my notes and pour a measure of the Sea Fury alongside the Dark Storm. I can agree that there is cross-over, particularly on the nose but this Dark Storm is quite different. Here the combination of heavy char imparts a toasty depth that comes across as honeyed malt and a thicker smokiness but it doesn’t broil with the same depths and power of the Sea Fury and lacks the more obvious vanillin. the Sea Fury sports a hefty almost 60% ABV, the Dark Storm comes in at the Talisker standard of 45.8% so the comparison isn’t fair from the get go. But, this Dark Storm delivers well. The lift of the sweet fruity notes, and the delicacy of the smoke in spite of its big presence is very well done. The Storm was unnecessary, it was the calm before the true (Dark) Storm. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Sea Fury to attend to under the Dark Storms waves… Price is for 1000 ml bottle. Distiller whisky taste #258 [Pictured here with a clutch of sapphirine schists from southern Madagascar. Thats sapphirine, not sapphire. Sapphirine is much better. 560-530 million years ago Madagascar for caught up in the assembly of the Gondwanan supercontinent and the closure of the Mozambique ocean. Essentially Madagascar got smashed between India to the east and East Africa to the west. During this time some 720 million year old oceanic sediments were metamorphosed at ultra high temperatures of 800-1000 degrees C at depths of 25-35 km; the result these spectacular rocks.] Talisker running scores: T10: 4/5 T18: 4.75/5 T8 2021 Special Release: 4.5/5 Skye: 3.25/5 Port Ruighe: 2.75/3 Storm: 3.5/5 Dark Storm: 4.25/5 57 North: 4.25/5 X Parley Wilder Seas: 4.25/5

This is supposedly the Talisker with the most intense peat level that isn’t cask strength. And the nose might suggest that. Sure you can’t expect anything Islay-like but for a Talisker it indeed has a prominent peat. But there also is a lingering sweetness right of the bat too. In fact it somewhat has Highland Park patterns but smoother. The nose is very delicious - not too strong not too weak - it really comes across well balanced. It has old sour apples, pumpkin spice, vanilla scones with custard - but everything hand in hand with the dominant peat note. On the palate the peat is right up front. Surprisingly cold while the nose promised a certain smoothness. A bid like cold ash. Also citrus fruits and spiced bread sticks. The finish remains smokey peaty. Cold and dry. But very spicy and with a fitting nice smoked chili burn. Still the finish decreases in enjoyment and in the end it really is the downside of this whisky so much so that it subtracts points from the rating. Water releases more tannins on the palate which makes it slightly bitter. The finish gets more intense with an increased sharpness and burn. It is interesting and rough but a tad too hot and bitter. The nose a bid better then the palate and finish.

On the nose: Peat. (Not the cigarrete smoke, more like johnnie walker red "stinky" peatyness) Vanilla cream. Mountain forest (eucaliptus maybe) Citrus aroma somewhere. Its oranges (discovered after adding water) Grapes purple Very very very strong dram. Very different from skye. Lots of wood. Old wood, fire, smoke and a bitter sensation. Very powerful, not so pleasant finish but long and strong. Oakiness, lots of spices. Full bodied. I had to pour some drops of water to discover more and to finish it. It is almost what we called in Ecuador a "PURO"  which is straight alcohol. Although no alcohol aroma or taste is present, it feels like a "puro" because of its strong power (45.8% abv) (just as skye but this othe one is smooth and lovely). Dark storm is a great name for it. It feels like a strong storm in a boat, very scary. Update: added some water: same flavor. More spices come up but much more pleasant. You shouldn't need to add water to enhace a whisky.  Some caramel appeared now. The finish is still powerful.90 over 100

Nose: Peat followed by black pepper and red chillies and hidden within are sweet honey and fruits. Palate: The heavily charred cask brings out the peat and the strong spiciness of black pepper and red chillies following by honey sweetness and peat. long finish with continuing spiciness. I recommend leaving an opened bottle in your cabinet for a week or more before evaluating the taste. I feel the malt really settles down and becomes more balanced and smooth.

Heerlijke whisky, met een aangenaam rokerige geur. Niet bepaald alcoholisch. De nasmaak is ook sterk, maar blijft niet zolang hangen als de talisker storm, wat vermoedelijk komt door de oliën, deze heeft het olie van sherryvaten, wat minder olie bevat en de storm heeft olie van geroosterde Amerikaanse eikenvaten, die meer olie bevatten. De gebruikte sherryvaten zorgen wel voor een zoete whisky, en daardoor ook meer diepgang.

As a peat and smoke enthusiast, this one leaned into the familiar Islay flavours while adding island recognition. On the nose, salty briney, and peaty notes. When the dram hits the a warm fruity, peaty scotch fills the mouth. With great mouthfeel, it finishes with a familiar Island balance of smoke and floral, notes. Overall, not a peat bomb, but a middle class thst punches well above its weight in flavour.