Talisker Select Reserve (Game of Thrones-House Greyjoy)

This one wasn’t easy for me to find and as a Talisker fan I’m very happy that I did. It reminds me a lot of the classic 10 although gentler this time. On the nose there is less brine and pepper and more of what seems to be sherry sweetness (I could bet there are some sherry casks on the mix here). The palate is a bit less spicy and again, a tad sweeter. The finish is savoury, simply delicious, making it dangerously quaffable. (Peat wise they are very similar for me) This one was a very pleasant surprise,a very good whisky, not just a gimmick. I would say it is softer than the 10, not as refined as the 18, but great value nonetheless. I recommend it even for the ones out there there aren’t big fans of the Talisker profile (yet!).

Briney seaweed palate, but a smooth balanced level of peat

Drank neat in a glencarin, rested 10 minutes Nose: that awesome Talisker brine, burnt fruits, black pepper, red meat underlying with a bit of citrus. Taste: red pepper chili flakes, seaweed, brine, saltwater, hearty floral note. Finish: medium, general spices, red chili, brine smoke, settling into a mildly numbing bitter oak As a fan of Talisker, this hits all the right notes for me. Something to chew on and tackle that reminds me of the sea while containing enough fruity and pepper notes to separate it from the Storm and 10 year. A worthwhile pick regardless of the brand affiliation.

Tasted with David on 8/8/2020 Islands. Color added. Chill filtered. Delicious. Salt and sea, light peat. It's a very warm, winter-y taste. There's that Talisker toffee taste, but it's more complex here and just a bit harsher than the 10 year. Really delicious. I think I still prefer the 10 but this one is a bargain for how delicious it is and that makes me like it even more. A side note: I would have called this one House Borathean. The warmth here doesn't really say "We're seafaring bandits" to me.

Muted nose from normal Talisker 10, a little less peat, more brine, not as much fruit hiding behind the peat. On the palate I'm noticing a lot of straight up salt which I do not enjoy very much. It tastes like someone literally tilted a salt shaker in my glass. Other aspects such as peat, pepper and sherry are toned down and the salt is turned way up. Not a fan unfortunately. The only plus is that it was cheap.

Glass: Classic Glencairn Colour: red amber Nose: syrup and sweetness, slight smoke, bananas, dates Palate: pepper and chili hit very distinctly in this expression. Very pleasant spicy burn that expands to ashiness and slightly oily mouthfeel. Finish: smokiness for a medium time. 3.75/4