Talisker The Wild Explorador (2023 Special Release)

A no age statement offering for the 2023 special release. A bold move Talisker; NAS has not been your strong point in the past. Whats more this year, the special release is finished in a combination of port casks (white, tawny, and ruby). In my opinion the weakest offering Talisker put out is the port cask finished NAS Port Ruighe. Bearing in mind I am a sucker for port cask whisky, my low ranking of PR is a bit of an indictment. So, is tonight going to see a fall from grace for Talisker in my opinion, or will I be pleasantly surprised? N: Opens with a little bit of aggressive burn so I’ll leave that for a few minutes and let this mellow out for a minute. A light ashy smoke drifts into the frame and brings some sweet bacon and almost leathery oak tannins. The minerality is evident and a misty, foggy, overcast sea scape unfolds. A slightly vegetal and herbal whiff ushers in the fruit. Sultana, figs, blackcurrant and a subtle oiliness like walnut or marzipan perhaps? P: Assertive. A dry medium body opens with a smack of grainy-ashy textural smoke and an almost heavy handed slap of black pepper to chilli. Let the smoke settle in and it will reveal dark cherry and dark caramel, woody tannins keep the dryness going. Crisp apple, a flash of summer berries and then dark brooding leather and old waxed furniture. Salt. F: Long. If you don’t respect this then the finish is a harsh chilli and peppercorn assault. A careful approach though and there is a slight creaminess, maybe toffee and the promise of nutmeg or cinnamon that never quite arrives. Cool beach bonfire smoke closes the proceedings with a glimmer of the underlying malt as oat and pastries. Curiouser and curiouser. This certainly has subverted expectations. First lets get ideas of grandeur and excellence out the way, this isn’t that. This is obviously young from the first nosing and the Talisker chilli catch is working double time. But, it doesn’t make this unenjoyable, and it certainly doesn’t stop it being interesting or good. Beyond the youth there is lots to explore in the Talisker wilds. The port casks are measured and restrained, evident as understated fruits on the nose and just the right amount of leathery oiliness to tell you port was in the mix. The palate has a weightiness that makes up for a bit of a tight profile, but theres enough there to enjoy. The finish, if you have the patience will speak of things that you will never really find, but you’re going to keep looking, keep exploring none the less. Wild and untamed, and worth the exploration. Distiller whisky taste #270 [Pictured here with an astrophyllite fenite from Mt. Eveslogchorr on the Kola Peninsula, Russia. Fenites are awesome, highly altered igneous rocks that are completely obliterated and altered (in this case to white sugary albite feldspar) by aggressive CO2 fluids. The astrophyllite is the shiny cola brown blades; they’re just plain pretty]. Talisker running scores T10: 4/5 T18: 4.75/5 Skye: 3.25/5 Port Ruighe: 2.75/3 Storm: 3.5/5 Dark Storm: 4.25/5 Surge: 4/5 57 North: 4.25/5 X Parley Wilder Seas: 4.25/5 T8 2018 Special Release: 4.5/5 T15 2019 Special Release: 3.5/5 T8 2020 Special Release: 4.25/5 T8 2021 Special Release: 4.5/5 T11 2022 Special Release: 4/5 Wild Explorador 2023 Special Release: 3.5/5

So after a series of 8 year releases, they go NAS? Seriously, how damn young is this! OK so lets ignore that Nose - Sea breeze salt brings some light peat and sweetness (knowing it's port finished it's port). I honestly really enjoy this simple yet pretty well done nose. It's talisker through and through with some nice sweet notes. It isn't old it isn't special but it's nice. Taste - how is this so good? I got young whisky on the past two 8's. I didn't love the 11. This is freaking good. It's obviously not old, but I don't get ANY youth notes here. Meanwhile I get this aggressive and assertive whisky. Big peat big salt big finish. And nice sweet port notes. It's a touch hot. It's kinda simple. But that's to be expected. Seriously guys, this is a fun. I'm not sure what the price is. I got this as a 20 cl for 30 something...but if a full bottle is under 100 or at 100, I think this is a clear buy. 3.5 out of 5. Damn this is good.

N: Faint peat that builds as you nose it with oak, brine, and hints of old leather. This reminds me of grilling steaks on the beach. P: Nice coating mouthfeel as the peat hits you mid-palate and then starts to match the nose with briny notes with touches of oak. I'd Day I'm getting about 1/3 of the intensity of the smoke that I would from a typical Ardbeg or Lagavulin. The initial sip is smooth before the heat of the nearly 120 proof hits. It's not "hot" per se, it just let's you know it's there. I'm getting something sweet like vanilla between the smoke and then the oak followed by the heat. This is an adventure whiskey. It must be the part trying to sneak through that is giving me the sweet notes. The port revels itself more and more as you let the whiskey open up. F: Smoke subsides and is replaced by sweet, jammy port notes. Take your time with this one!

Very good with notes of berries, salted caramel, cherries, chili peppers, white chocolate, and tropical fruit with the influence of white, ruby, and tawny port casks each playing a role. Nose: Blueberries, Salted Toffee, Chili Peppers, Roses, Strawberries, Morello Cherries, Sultanas, Raspberries, Pineapples, Seville Oranges, Figs, White Chocolate, Butterscotch, Almonds, Barbecue Sauce Palate: Honey, Blueberries, Raisins, Morello Cherries, Cranberries, Vanilla, White Chocolate, Peaches, Salted Caramel, Salted Cod Finish: Blueberries, Luxardo Cherries, Salted Caramel, Raisins, Bananas, Apricots, Sultanas, Toffee, Honey

Nez : surprenant comme clest doux, un peu d’epice poivrée, un peu porto, un peu salin bord de mer Bouche : belle influence du porto, marin, très boisé et salin Finale : tres puissant, englobant Un peu trop funky à mon gout pour un Talisker 7.5/10 Pairing interessant pour la puissance avec un grand cru noir 85%!

Nécessite dilution 10 gouttes/once sinon trop fort pour remarquer les subtilités Nez : Assez doux d’abord, puis vague d’épices et de porto, air marin Bouche : Porto qui tire sur le vinaigre Finale : Coup de masse, langue en feu, sels à profusion, bois Accord : Bon avec grand cru d’assemblage noir 85%