Tastes

I feel as if Talisker can’t do me any wrong. There’s maybe just 3-4 distilleries that I’ve consistently given either a 4 or 5 across their portfolio. Talisker is one of them, along with Kilchoman, Springbank, and Ardbeg. I got this via @Generously_Paul as part of our trading team. Pears, pink Himalayan salt, lingering briny finish. What’s not to like? The finish especially reminds me of my mom’s samosas...a spicy salty taste, with fennel and coriander. Thanks @Generously_Paul for the pour!

It's quite basic...and actually a really good intro for the newly initiated into single malts. There's not much going in terms of complexity, but then again...it probably doesn't need to. At this point, after having had the likes of Talisker, Highland Park, some of the Balvenies, Karuizawas, and Yamazaki's, I'd rank this squarely as a two or three star. But, this was my first, and was so simple and gentle, it then assured me quietly to go into more complex single malts. I then felt gutsy enough to try a Jura. Then a Talisker. Then an Ardbeg. My journey would've come to a dead halt if I started with the likes of an Ardbeg or Lagavulin. So...something like this is perfect for the folks interested in trying what a single malt has to offer. ( A friend of mine actually had her first single malt as Lagavulin 16. That was also her last time she ever tried a single malt.)

I loved the Talisker 10. Until I had this. Thiis starts off first with a savory aroma...took me back to when I was a kid, getting a whiff of my mom's samosas frying in the kitchen. The taste is sweet savory---the sherry mutes that classic Talisker pepper punch. Finish is long, with a eucalyptus like flavor. Really good, especially considering the price.

Really powerful, like the stuff that grows hair on your chest...which is quite surprising considering the ABV. Nose is amazingly sweet, the first taste comes out spicy with a long finish. So---is it worth the price? I'm not a rue person, so probably not for me. But if you enjoy high quality rye----then yes

I bought this one based on the high rating here ( lesson learned----follow recommendations from tried sources, not new ones). The nose is almost like acetone. A smell that jolts memories of my sophomore chem class isn't good. The taste is even worse. No depth or character, with a bitter behind-the-throat scratchy finish. I've not had many blends before--maybe I'm spoiled by the only ones I've had ( Hibiki 12 and 17, and the Compass Box ones). But--spend a few bucks more and get the Compass Box Great King St blend... For a few bucks more, the quality is by far superior.

If you've had Japanese malts before, like the Yamazaki or Hibiki, you'll find this quite different. It's not peaty, but does have a hint of smoke---more like charcoal. The aroma is weak, but the palette is quite strong with the floral charcoal mix. Finish is quite short. Not bad for the price, and quite different than others from Japan

Definitely not better than their 12 yr old standard. This one misses the earthy mushroom flavor and aroma.

Really rich and complex. Yoichi is one of the only distilleries that still uses coal, so there's a very earthy flavor to this, in addition to the fruity sweet. A real gem. I've tried their 10 yr old and 15...the 10 has more fruit forward while the 15 is more earthy. Now that Nikka has announced they'll stop making age statements, I can't image the 15 to be in the market for long. Wondering if Suntory will go that route too...getting noticeably harder to find the Yamazaki 18.

Not sure if I should give this to my wife as a perfume, or drink it. The nose is quite floral, almost like roses and cotton candy. I keep coming back for the aroma. Taste is so-so....but I really love this scent. Really a different style. I think it's perfect for summer actually---not sure I'd want to be sipping a peaty Lagavulin in 90 degrees, but this I don't mind. Alison Patel's creation is definitely unique.

Another excellent blend by John Glaser. The first whiff is smoke and fruit, taste becomes sweeter, but the finish is long and smoky. Really a great buy considering the price. You'd pay more for an equally good single malt.