Talisker Distillers Edition

Bottle killed on (the wee hours) of 3/1/19. Talisker OB Distiller's Edition Distilled 2000 Bottled 2011 45.8% ABV Price: 76 USD. I have one more bottle I bought for same price. My opinions on the Diageo's Distiller's Edition is that this is the only one that takes a good whisky and made it better. The only DE that matches this in quality is Lagavulin DE, but Lagavulin 16 is a great whisky, and better than its DE counterpart. Talisker 10 is a good whisky, but this DE is just ever so slightly better. Also, if you have the option of buying older DEs, go older. These fancy casks just seem to be spread thinner and thinner as Scotch becomes more popular, and wood finishes are taking on more and more shortcuts. This sherry finish is well integrated deeply into the Talisker 10 maritime soul, and it offers more than just a sugarcoat. There's peaches and figs with that seaspray and iodine. You are bringing some non-native fruits and flowers to the harsh Skye coastline. Made by the sea meets made by the garden in surprising harmony. The only gripe is with the finish. Talisker 10, on account of being less sweet, ends with a nice seeweed umami. This DE ends with oaky astringency. This is a brown bottle that looks better than the new design. I've had the newer (blue) DEs, and I can't say they're much worse. This is still a good buy, regardless of year, if you can find it in the $70-80 range. Rating (price not factored): 89 / 100 Purchase satisfaction (price factored): 4 / 5

NOSE: Think hotel breakfast. Burnt toast with strawberry jam, smoked bacon with syrup, black tea. Burning candle. It really paints a rich scene. PALATE: Maple syrup with pepper, finishes with salty bacon and pepper. Great texture. OVERALL: For me, the best value bottle out there. Just unique and wonderful. It combines a popular recipe of peat + sherry, but delivers uniquely. Brunch in a bottle.

Perfectly balanced.