Talisker Distillers Edition

Virtually all of Diageo's major distilleries offer a "distillers edition" or "distiller's edition," which is the base expression from a distillery with some added sherry finish. That's the formula with Lagavulin Distillers Edition, which is stupidly amazing, and Caol Ila and Oban have similar offerings. Talisker's Distillers Edition is finished in Amoroso sherry casks for the last few months before bottling, and that short amount of time does impart some significant changes to this single malt. Compared to Talisker 10, the powerful sherry influence diminishes some of the balance and variety of flavors that the base expression exhibits, and which makes it one of my favorite single malts. On the nose, I detect cherry, oily sherry, wisps of smoke, marzipan, and a distinct brininess. The palate is sweet and floral at first, with sherry and malt mixing with brine, a pinch of pepper, and citrus fruits. Overall, however, that sherry washes out more flavors than it adds, and makes this a less distinctive dram, one that I easily could have mistaken as the product of many Speyside distilleries. The finish consists of leather and shoe polish, gravel, and apple-flavored malt. A bottle can be found for about $80, so not much more than the original, but what's the point of the splurge when Talisker 10 is just so good? Thanks to Telex for the sample!