Talisker 18 Year

I loved the 10 so was hoping this would blow me away. It didn't quite do that, but it's a lovely dram nonetheless. The nose is somewhat generic for a scotch, and I wouldn't be able to pick it out as a Talisker. There's some chalky gravel and a light touch of smoke to the nose, but the more enduring notes are malt, orange, and apple (not much different than a lot of Highland scotches). In the background, I detect some jasmine. Talisker's signature note is pepper, and it remains prominent even after all those years of development in the barrel. The fruit transforms into sweet plum, and this scotch has an oily, waxy mouthfeel that's quite unique. Then there is a huge, musky floral note that hits right at the swallow. After a slight letdown on the nose, this scotch makes a strong comeback here. Talisker 18 ends with stronger notes of smoke and salt than are present in its flavor profile, although those flavors are still counterbalanced by more floral notes (so in this respect I agree with the Distiller notes). The smoke that emerges on the finish is reminiscent of an older Islay scotch like Laphroaig 18, where it has mellowed out into a toasty, leathery scent rather than being acrid and sharp. There's a cool, interesting, hoppy end, which resembles an IPA. The finish is the best part of this scotch because it lingers with some mild but noticeable features for a long time, and yet it never grows unpleasant, overly bitter, or too drying.