Talisker Distillers Edition

Pretty great mix between the smoky peat, a pinch of sea salt and a sweet butterscotch. Surprisingly, it shows to the nose as much as the palate and aftertaste. So good, everything in its right place.

On the palate: peat, smoke, brine, candied/cooked down red fruit, black pepper and honey and finishes sweet. Light peat and sweetness with that ocean brine character thrown in. The sweetness, smoke, and big brine and black pepper notes can certainly lend to barbecue flavors or sweet sausage. Overall, a killer dram

Blind tasting. Dark golden, thinly coats the glass, whispy plentiful legs. Nose: Slightly sweet smoke, charcoal, heather, clover honey, barbecue, hey. The smoke is too light for most Islays I’ve tried. There is dried pineapple, burnt sugar, bits of fig, slight sea spray, cinnamon roll. Sweet dried fruits, intense burnt sugar and cerasote with a coating sensation - short of being viscous. Slight barbecue out there nares and lip smacking burnt sugar, fig and clean ash on the finish. There’s a slight bit of phenol noticeable on second sip but the sweet, charred malt notes are really coming through. The finish is long and satisfying with nicely balanced dark caramel and smoke flavors. There might be a bit of dried fig or other dried fruit but I’m possibly making it up. This is solid - like a smokey sticky bun with just a bit of supporting wood notes. Campfire desert time. Nothing comes across as fru fru - no big fruity wine notes are coming through for me. I would guess lightly peated, smoked malt aged in second or third fill bourbon barrels. Proof and body make me think this is around 48% ABV and in the 12-15 year range Cambletown? Not briney enough, no kippers. Skye? Possible. Oban? Too Smokey. Bowmore! Wouldn’t know, haven’t tried it. Could be a younger Lagavulin but the intensity of the ash isn’t there. Empty glass is rich with dark salted caramel, barbecue and for the first time a bit of spent pipe bowl. Delightful. Not as deep or complex as a Lag 16, Ardbeg Cory or Talisker 10 and a bit more bold but less complex than JW Green. Above Laphroig 10 and years beyou d JW double black. Probably puts this at a 3.75-4.0. I’ll go with the latter because overall this is really good but not a standout. Reveal - Talisker DE (year unknown) Was this DE finished in bourbon barrels or port instead of Sherry!? Is this Amoroso finished, really? Could this be the 2020 edition using recharged American oak splashed with Amoroso for a short 6 months??? I just don’t get the sherry notes the way I do with the 10 year. The 10 year makes me feel fancy. It comes across as complete across the spectrum and in wonderful balance. This is complex and well balanced but not as bright. Honestly I wouldn’t give up the 10 for this. I wouldn’t pass on this either because frankly Talisker can do no wrong in my book. If they were the same price I might trade them off but keep at least one on my shelf at all times. I owe @Contemplativefox a big thank you for sharing this sample!

Nose - bacon grease, oily peat, iodine, brine, kipper, date, fig, strawberry, toffee, vanilla, cherry syrup, cocoa, orange blossom, chili pepper, honey, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - smoked meat, oily peat, brine, chili pepper, kipper, black pepper, iodine, date, fig, baked apple, candied orange, cherry cola, salted caramel, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, honey, lemon zest, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with smoky, salty meat, caramelized dark fruit, and chili pepper flavors. Talisker 10 year is one of my favorite entry level peated malts, so I’m very excited to give this a try. That familiar oily, briny, meaty peat greets me on the nose. However, dark sherried fruits quickly join the bouquet, providing a nice counterpoint to the savory backbone. The same experience continues on the palate with sweet, salty, spicy, and fruity notes harmonizing nicely from the arrival through the finish. I’m split on whether I like this more than the 10 year. Both are delicious and deserve attention, but I don’t think this is worth $100 when I can buy the standard offering for around $60. I have the same opinion of Lagavulin 16 year and its Distiller’s Edition variant. The cask finish adds an interesting dynamic, but it doesn’t completely transcend the original. If you think Talisker is great, you’ll probably think this is great too. And I do. Many thanks to @ContemplativeFox for providing the sample.

2018 amaroso cask finished. Smooth and unique with the ashy brine finish. Rich and smooth