Talisker Distillers Edition

Looks nice in the glass. With this being a NAS, and as dark as it is, I'm inclined to say there's added color, but so what? Lace forms after several minutes, but it's not delicate, instead appearing large and gaudy, like the interior decorations on an overzealous Indian subcontinent lorry. After 10 minutes it has formed a uniform ring almost 1/4" high around the entire surface. A good swirl coats heavily, and the layer holds solid for 20 seconds or so before it starts to form thick legs that take several minutes to reach bottom. Nose is tart berries, like ground blackberry and cherry without added sugar, and then there's a rich, oily apple smell that immediately reminds me of Calvados, and finally tobacco leaf and vanilla bean. There is no smoke, no peat, no pepper. Palate is rich and also a little prickly - it weighs heavy but doesn't go full-on sweet. The Calvados from the nose is here, but so is a LOT of white pepper, with tobacco leaf and tobacco ash playing third-string support cast. Middle dries out, and this now feels young and a bit brash, almost hot, with pencil shavings and overcooked pancetta moving to a bitter dark cocoa powder and finally leaving only the white pepper still tingling at the close. This is much different than previous bottles from a decade ago, which I recall being more of a lesson on what Talisker 10 can be when it goes to an upper-class finishing school and knocks off the rough edges. And now, as then, I still prefer the original 10 year formula, with salted meat and peat and black pepper. Talisker 10 is a unique profile all to itself, and I don't see the value (other than more bottles on shelf) of changing what works so well.

The Amoroso casks definitely leave their mark here. As compared to the classic Talisker 10, the Distiller’s Edition is most notably different on the nose. That iconic seasise smoke is certainly still there, but its more subdued, and its met with more sweetness, and even a grassy quality. Some would definitely say then, that the nose is more complex. On the palate, its briny, as all Tally is, but its also more full-bodied and comes with a sweet cocoa note and maybe a tiny bit of overripe fruit. I get raisin, but thats just me. Apple also makes an appearance. Then on the finish, the gentle bitterness and barrel spice show, with the signature salt being the longest lingering quality. I’d say its actually a little less spicy and easier to drink than the 10, but in my opinion that is owed to the sweet notes and the extra time in barrel. It’s darker, and more rich. That said, this may be one of the few DE releases from Diageo where I’d say I actually prefer the classic instead. I think the 10 year just packs a bit more punch and is a little more memorable to me. Its more immediate, and sharper. That being said, this is a fun bottle to drink, and if you like peat, a hard one to hate. It may even make for a pretty nice intro to peat for those who are unfamiliar. More interesting than the 10? Arguably. Better? I wouldn’t say so.

TALISKER SHOWDOWN REDUX Talisker Storm Talisker 10 Talisker Distiller’s Edition Talisker 18 (Last reviewed 9/30/23) It’s cool in Connecticut. Chilly, even. Cool means fire. Fire means smoke. Smoke means Scotch whisky. And tonight that’s Talisker. Talisker Storm Honey, smoky peat, pumpkin pie, apricot, kelp, iodine, sea salt. Lightly viscous in the mouth with a honey and peppercorns morphing into a long finish with honey, pear, smoke, vanilla, cured meat, and char. I like the Storm more each time I try it. Not only are the aromatics and flavors powerful and complex, but it’s bottled at 45.8% ABV (vs 43% for average “better” whiskies), which enhances the aesthetics. It’s the least expensive of the lineup, and can be found between $60-$70. Would I buy it again? Yes. 3.75 on the Distiller scale. NAS. The light color suggests that there is no coloring added, though neither the bottle nor website mention this. 45.8% ABV. Talisker 10 Like the Storm, but with the dial turned up. Lots of sweet (honey, apricot, pear) along with peaty smoke. Similar viscosity to the Storm. Long finish with pepper, vanilla, char, saline. I cannot believe that I rated this 4.0 two years ago (especially considering my history with this whisky; I’ve always loved it). The official 96 rating from Distiller is apt; we’re approaching rarified air here. Talisker 10 can be had for $70-80. Would I buy it again? Aye. It’s a tremendous whisky value. 4.5+ on the Distiller scale. 10-year age statement. 45.8% ABV. Talisker Distiller’s Edition Darker than the Storm and 10-year due to the sherry-cask finishing. I could copy-paste my previous notes, as the impression is the same, so I will: “Wonderfully complex nose shows chocolate-covered cherries, bacon jam, a whiff of cool menthol, and evident vanilla, which suppresses (but does not eliminate) the smoky peat of the 10-year. The palate has a little glycerin, honey, dried orange peel, liquified pralines, and Honey-Nut Cheerios. A gentle spiciness leads to a slightly smoky peat, some leather dryness, and a cereal note.” Diageo owns Talisker (and Lagavulin, Oban, and several other whisky brands), and its “Distiller’s Edition” adds sherry-cask aging to each. In the case of Talisker, the 10-year is double-matured in Amoroso casks. It retails for $80-$90. Would I buy it again? Affirmative. And I’ll need to, because I just polished off that bottle. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 10-year age statement (distilled 2009; bottled 2019). 45.8% ABV. Talisker 18 Pomander, speck, and smoke, but the smokiness is tamped down by the sweetness. Not only honeyed like the other expressions, but carrying a crème brûlée caramelized-sugar aspect as well. If the 10-year is the Storm with the volume turned up, then the 18-year is the 10-year with the dial turned down a bit, but in a direction that’s more complex and assured. White pepper on the finish, along with bacon jam. Talisker 18 is more of a special-occasion whisky. It is an aged whisky from the Isle of Skye which shows the power of the ocean with the finesse of 18 years of aging. Tasted blind, it would not come across as energetic as the others. Would I buy it again? As long as I had the discretionary income, yes. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 18-yr age statement. 45.8% ABV, consistent with the other Talisker expressions here. The Storm clearly has the youngest flavor profile of the group. The 10-year is the winner here; it is a combination of the strength of youth and the complexity of age. The Distiller’s Edition is nice, but the 10-year already has plenty of sweetness. And the 18 is very good, but it’s more mellow and restrained. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.