Talisker 18 Year

Served neat from a full bottle into a Glencairn. The nose is a familiar island whisky, but somehow polished and briny at the same time. The spice and brine is equally offset by sweet floral notes. Reminds me somewhat of Spanish brandy, just mildly peated. Lush and thick mouth-feel, with a very mild spice that starts soft, yet never fully dies. The citrus zest and spice are reminiscent of lemon mentholated candies (made with real lemons) from Southeast Asia. The citrus and spice keep riding, picking up some clove and floral herbs for the ride. The aftertaste is somewhat bittersweet, like a caramel-mochacchino brewed with heavily roasted Peruvian coffee. While I am normally a fan of sherry-bombs (port pipes count, too), this holds it's own as a digestif. It's not as intense or complex as the NAS Ardbegs, yet it is far more refined, while still retaining the attention getting character. At this price point, there are other options that I would probably spend money on first, but this will definitely be revisited after this bottle runs out. What a way to bring in the new year!

Smokey on nose, smooth, sweet with cherry flavor on entry. Lasting flavor. One of the best