Talisker Select Reserve (Game of Thrones-House Greyjoy)

Nose : toffee, mellow, like an early autumn night Taste : same. I'm drunk

Over at a friend’s house, I spotted a cache of GoT whiskies ready to explore. As we already had plenty of bottles to try, I asked for a recommendation on the best one and out came the Talisker. The nose starts with what seems to be some sherry notes with caramel covered chocolate prunes then fruits of candied orange peel, peaches and apricots with vanilla cake before notes of light peat and ocean brine with dehydrated seaweed, ginger, leather and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with vanilla orange creamsicle, then some sherry notes with chocolate covered raisins, apricots leading to campfire ashes, ocean brine with dehydrated seaweed, ginger, cloves, leather and light oak with a medium ethanol burn that finishes medium length with freshly fallen autumn leaves burning in a campfire, sea salt dark chocolate candy bar, candied orange peel, peaches, ginger, cloves and leather. This is a solid whisky that makes me wish I had paid more attention to these GoT releases, but I already spend too much on whisky and definitely don’t need to play gotta catch them all on some gimmicky bottles to add to my overstuffed cabinets. The whisky is fruity; a balance of peat and spices, but this is also very salty. It seems they made sure to incorporate as much brine as a person can probably handle for the maritime House Greyjoy theme. I personally really enjoy salty foods and this worked really well for me, but I can also see a person dislike this for the same reason.

Super smooth opening then spice bomb. Nice mellow and long finish

I'm not sure I could pick this apart from the Storm if they're lined-up together. Sweet, smoky peat. Loses a quarter point for the goofy GOT marketing. Also minus for a somewhat more ashy finish that I'm not especially fond of. Still, it's unmistakably a Talisker.

Beautiful middle ground for the peat-curious. Also distinctly briney in a pleasant way.