Tastes

Quick hit review #2: I wasn't expecting much from this and though it didn't blow me away amazingly it came first of all the drams I tried even though it was the cheapest. Well balanced and flavoured.

Quick hit review #1: I caught up with a friend at my favourite bar when I flew down for work. I tried 5 whiskies before I jumped on the plane. I was keen to see what Billy Walker could do with a new distillery. Was it his magic or Glendronach's or both that made his releases a winning combination in his time there. Based on this and the portwood I tried it seems like it was a combination effort as out of the 5 drams his efforts were 4th and 5th. Thinner and rougher but more interesting than the portwood which was the worst of the night.

Whilst I agree with the taste descriptors RM outlined I'm more in alignment with scotch harding's scoring. It has the same issue the bottle of 18 I tried has too hot and harsh. I've tried the 25 twice, once was average and overwooded and once was very good so it seems once again there maybe variation in the top end of the Talisker range. Whilst I have a preference generally for younger Islays or best of all blends of young and old stock I still appreciate the exquisite quality of say the Laphroaig 18 or 25. The older Taliskers I've tried mostly don't even have that. They seem all over the place. I thought initially it was a sample vs bottle thing but I drank a whole bottle of the 18 and it didn't improve. It seems the older dated bottles were a lot higher rated on average... hopefully not another scotch distillery going down the toilet. Hopefully your bottle is a better one @1901!

This had the misfortune of bring tasted in conjunction with the Ardbeg 19 which unfortunately smoked the pants off it. Also the memory of the awesome Red wine cask is still strong so in comparison to that it also fell short. So in summary tasted younger less richer or flavorful than either those two. I was too enamored with the Ardbeg to even bother seeking tasting descriptors. Might have been 4 on the day without the memory of the Red wine or being tried together with the Ardbeg...but 3.75 for me it is.

I re-signed my work contract for another 6 months tour of duty and so back down in my home town at my favourite whiskey bar where I spied this beauty and the Kilchoman STR on the shelf. $30 usd a pour better than spending $210 usd for a bottle. This is damn nice.. starts slow but then builds into a crescendo of awesome blended flavor. Definitely a 4.25 maybe 4.5. Vanilla, salted caramel (probably the mix of chutney I was eating at the time), peaty smoke and more. It has kick, richness and power. It definitely beat the Kilchoman.

Despite the low abv its a tasty well balanced dram. Malt biscuit on the nose and palate. Vanilla, butterscotch and more. A definite step up from the Langatun I had not that long ago.

Not a bad dram but despite abv runs hot. I couldn't even tell it was port finish until I read the details it could have been sherry it's that faint. Definitely wouldn't grab a bottle.

I really don't like having to many bottles open. With all the other sampling they often take a while to get through and whilst initially improve after a few months open generally start to go down hill after that. I made an exception and busted this one out as amazingly I can still get more bottles so I wanted to see if it was worth the $110USD. Definitely is the answer, I'll place hold at 4.5 for now but it's shaping up to rise higher I think. I really love the peat port combo. Not quite as much as sherry peat but close. This is very well done and along with the Benriach 18 Albariza, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Port Ellen & Rare (Ghost & Rare), Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask Matured, Benriach 22 year Moscatel wood finish, Talisker 8 Year Old (Special Release), Glendronach Cask 2683 - 24 year 1991, Booker's 6 year True Barrel Bourban Batch 2107-01E, Woodwinters ‘Isle Solera’ 16 Year Old, Batch 1 35 years old (That Boutique-y Whisky Co.) round out my top 10 whiskies for 2019 - yup I'm calling it early this year! Update Jan 2020: I'm thinking rather than going up it's going the other way the more I drink it more a 4.25