Reviews

I just revisited this one after about a month and a half on the shelf. When I’m in the mood for an Islay, I usually go for Lagavulin 16 but I’m running low so I cracked this open and poured myself a dram. To my surprised, I enjoyed it far more this time than I remember enjoying it. Nose: peat smoke (duh), sea salt, subtle sweetness, a slightly meaty smell to the smoke. Palate: sweetness, seaweed, at the front then peat smoke furnace at the back. I prefer this to the 10-year, though I’m partial to Lagavulin 16 for an Islay.

An interesting Talisker to be sure. Not as subtle or complex as 18 nor as thorough and rich as 10, but with more time in the glass, it opens up to a more dynamic flavor. Smoke and sea salt are at the forefront of the nose, but behind them lie tart citrus and subtle honey. The palate is at first full of peat smoke and iodine, and the finish is dry and quick. But after more time in the glass, the palate mellows a bit and a bit of pear is present as well as mellow sweetness. I’ve tasted it a handful of time but never let it sit long enough, and with time it’s quite a pleasant dram!