Talisker 57º North

Bottled 2015. I bought my 1L bottle of this on sale at a Duty Free for around 60 USD back in 2016. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything on sale at a Duty Free that I actually enjoyed. On cold, windy, rainy evenings, when neither my dog nor I enjoy a mandatory walk; when she does her business, and we hurry back home; she will always get comfort rewarming next to the fireplace. Her fireplace. Every now and again, this bottle of Talisker, young and strong at 57%, tricks me into believing that it can provide the same comfort that her fireplace provides her. This is a soulless, elemental experience from a time before the Earth could harbor life. There’s dirt, mineral ore, and deep fried salt. No fucking fish; or meat; or plant – just frying salt here. That’s the nose. On the palate, there’s a brief remembrance of Talisker 10, except amplified. Lots of pepper, chili, caramel, citrus, and red fruits. But the pleasantness is fleeting, and replaced by this mix of seawater and swimming pool water. The finish claws at the back of the throat with jagged crystals of caramel and minerals. A big helping of water smooths things out somewhat, but only by turning down the volume; it does not give this dram much needed life. This is nothing compared to Talisker 10; but slightly better than Talisker Storm. The alcohol warms me up a little, but everything else leaves me still chilly. Time to snuggle up to my dog, and her fireplace, with a second pour of Ardbeg Kelpie. Score: 0 (forgettable) How much does a bottle cost: Not available where I live. Check travel retail and online stores. $77 on TWE. How much do I think a bottle is worth: $35

My second cask strenght ever comes from my favorite brand, AND WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE IT WAS. Talisker 57° North is bottled at 57%abv and it is a bomb. Best with a couple drops of water. Bottled at 57%abv, with a deep copper color. On the nose is classic talisker and the high abv doesn't hurt your capability to percieve the aromas. Pepper, Raw meat, english sauce, salt and oregano. On the palate is POWERFUL but spectacular: Red fruits for a second, then a Spice bomb, lots of smoke. Hints of orange and almonds here and there. Finish is strong, long, smoky and spicy. Adding just 2 drops of water will reveal Earthy note on the nose and the same aroma but enhanced. On the palate it will improve a lot: Lemon, tangerine and orange syrup sweetness amazing. Spicyness all over. Red fruit pulp and toffee. Finish still very smoky and spicy too strong. One dram and i Asked if the air conditioner was turned off. POWERFUL. Overall i give this dram a 97 over 100. Great whisky.

I’m tasting this back to back with the popular 10yo trying to understand the big difference in the rating, and I can’t work it out. The nose is far less antiseptic, and the flavour better balanced-for my palate-between sweet and peaty notes. Not that it goes easy on the iodine and bacon, mind, but the delightful caramel up front leads you into that dark tarn in far friendlier way. Perhaps it lacks some of the breezy saltiness of the 10yo, but makes up for it with a pleasing ethanol punch. Overall, a more approachable and satisfying malt, I’d say.

목구멍 뾱!!!! 딱끔금끔!!! 초코??

Golden yellow (thanks coloring!), rather thick in the glass. The nose is immediately invaded by the peat, beautifully fleshy, with an intense and almost chewable smoke. Leather, burnt wood and ocean waves, very salty and spicy. Pepper, like any self-respecting Talisker. To insist patiently, there is also a hint of vanilla, all without ever being disturbed by alcohol. In the mouth the 57 degrees are felt with a nice initial pinch, the peat becomes sweeter and less fleshy, but always smoked, and leaves room for the ocean bomb, almost to hear the waves crashing on the rocks (what the Storm, in short, didn't know how to do). And when you dry the splashes of the sea from your face, orange, cinnamon, vanilla and much, much pepper with nutmeg arrive. The feeling is that of a bonfire on the rocks, without however the effort of preserving the fire from the fury of the water: the aromas chase and mix, with the push of alcohol and spices that holds everything together. The finish is long, with dull embers, salty and spicy, with caramelized orange on the fire (when you make a bonfire, don't you caramel some orange?)