Talisker 8 Year (2018 Special Release)

90 points. Solid stuff, plentiful hay, rosemary and beautifuk burnt cream.

I have not been enjoying whisky for long enough to know whether there is truth to the statements that the classic whiskies were better in years past. For all the Talisker I have drunk though, at its worst, is still acceptable if not good. This 2018 special release though is supposedly a call back to the old-school Taliskers from the 1970s to 1980s. It was matured in first fill ex-bourbon hogsheads casks and bottled at a natural cask strength of 59.4% ABV. N: Powerful. A punchy sweetness of tropical malt, orange, maybe red berry mixes with a vaguely metallic and medicinal cool smoke. Soft undertones of vanilla, toffee, and pepper. P: Smack. Peppery smoke turns to red chilli. BBQ meats, sweet apple, mocha, blackcurrant. This has everything going on, but it is heavy and likely masked by the high ABV. F: Long. Charred wood smoulders, metallic minerality, delicately floral and lingering chilli and black pepper. A few drops of water lifts the nose, fresh malt is more apparent, BBQ develops, and orange takes over the sweeter elements. The smoke has an almost menthol coolness to it now. Wow, so much softer, rounder and juicier. The chilli and pepper heat is toned down and becomes the fruiter end of the chilli spectrum, BBQ meat takes on a charred honey glazed ham and the smoke becomes more like embers hit with sea spray. The finish is much the same the smouldering ember smoke is just fantastic and now, finally, I find some real saltiness and it is spectacular. Damn, bottles of this, if I could find one in stock, seem to now range from AUD$300 up to some truly staggering prices. I am not surprised, for an 8 y/o this has some truly exceptional character and flavour development. The youth is perhaps evident in a high ABV that coupled with the classic Talisker chilli catch is a little aggressive; but still, if this was the only whisky you ever got to drink again I don’t think there would be many complaints. If this is how good all Talisker liquid was 30-40 years ago then I think I need to dedicate my life to time travel. Distiller whisky taste #260 [Pictured here with an emerald schist. Once upon a time (around lunch time Tuesday in the Oligocene) the Proterozoic (super old) metamorphic basement rocks fo the Panjsher Valley in Afghanistan were intruded by a bunch of granites. The resultant fracturing, hot fluid circulation, and alteration of the schists led to the schist being overprinted by feldspars (white), tourmaline (black) and chunky emeralds] Talisker running scores: T10: 4/5 T18: 4.75/5 Skye: 3.25/5 Port Ruighe: 2.75/3 Storm: 3.5/5 Dark Storm: 4.25/5 Surge: 4/5 57 North: 4.25/5 X Parley Wilder Seas: 4.25/5 T8 2018 Special Release: 4.5/5 T8 2021 Special Release: 4.5/5

In a blind tasting one might not think it’s just 8 years old. Got some tropical and lemony tasting notes from Lagavulin 2006 30 Year Nose: Golden Kiwis, Pineapples, Quince Pears, Papayas, Smoke, Lychees, Lemon Iced Tea, Plums, Raisins, Toasted Marshmallows Palate: Walnuts, Plums, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Golden Syrup, Salted Caramel, Iodine, Elderflowers, Key Lime Pie, Molasses Finish: Figs, Bacon, Smoke, Papayas, Figs, Elderflower, Caramel, Golden Syrup, Bananas, Molasses, Toasted Marshmallows, Mangoes

When talking about peaty whiskies, Talisker is my go-to dram. I had the opportunity to taste this young expression which has been bottled at a high abv of 59.4% to just punch you in the face. This is a special 2018 release from Diageo. On the nose: Inmidiate peat with orange. Dry grass burning, Hay burning. Toffee. Lemon after first sip. Dulce de leche. On the palate, it is a Wonderful dram.Toffee is surrounded with peat. Pepper is coming up. Its like a higher abv talisker.... wait! Toffees and peat. Aftertaste is the best part of this rewarding whisky. Ashes, Bonfire. Salty. It Burned my mouth forever, but in a pleasant way. Overall this, as all Taliskers, is a great whisky. It gives you all the flavor you want, with that typical profile from this distillery. 90 over 100. Amazing.

Amazing combination of candied fruit and smoke on the nose. More of the same plus extra citrus on the palate. Then a medium finish to boot!

After 2 weeks in Iceland without any whisky (or any alcohol for that matter—-it’s so freakin’ expensive there!!), I finally got back home and opened up this sample sent by my buddy @LeeEvolved . So, after letting it sit out a bit, while catching up on some Hassan Minhaj and John Oliver, I took a sip. My first reaction was “ damn it...I CAN’T believe I got one at $50, and then sold it (was trying to reduce some bottles in my collection, and foolishly thought a young Talisker can’t be all that good) for $60!!” What the hell was I thinking? Dumbass. At $50 when it first came out, I should’ve bought a few. This is now unfortunately hard to get except at sky high prices in auction. It’s 2 years younger than the 10, but acts a few years older. Closer to 18, but CS. You get meaty, salty notes, like a butcher shop next to an ocean. Then comes the classic Talisker pepper, but more brutish. Talisker at cask strength is as rough as it gets, but wow, this walks an amazing tightrope between rough and elegant. It’s what the 10 aspires to be. This is simply an amazing must buy at the original $50 price. I don’t know what secondary pricing is now, but I’m guessing well over $150. I’d not be a buyer of it over $90, because I can get the Corry or Uigi and be just almost as satisfied. But at $50...pull up a truck ( damn it, can’t believe I sold mine!!), it’s a steal. Solid 4.5 stars with a bump up considering original $50 pricing. Did I mention how upset I am selling mine?

4.4 average rating albeit from 12 reviews screams amazing. It's a lovely dram. With liberal dosing of water and time...marmalade, white pepper, sweet vanilla heavy salty peat bursts forward. Lighter and more refined than the 10, like it's older than it is. I'd say I'm in love....does it get to the top echelons of whiskies... Initially a 4 I thought..then definitely a 4.25 then definately a 4.5..this just gets better and better with time. Is it on par with the 10..yes..different but on par I thought. I cracked open the 10 to compare....definately the 8 yr wins on the nose. Palate it's a hard one..the 10 is richer but slightly harsher although it hasn't had the advantage of time open...the 8 year so full of flavour and refinement. The 10 is a fraction of the price so even if the 8 takes it in pure taste then once vfm is factored in then it's a draw. The 8 yr is what I wish the 18 had been (I definitely got a dud bottle). Again a great example of older isn't better as it smokes the (dud) 18 and 25 yr bottles and drams I had. 4.5 it is...maybe 4.75....if I could get hold of a bottle I'd buy it (a rarity these days). Make sure you give this one water and time sitting in the glass to get the most out if it.