Talisker Skye

This is another installment in the sample set I received as a Christmas gift. As a fan of Talisker 10 (the first peated Scotch that really blew me away) I was happy to see what this NAS expression had to offer. I won't go into great detail, as I believe I need more than a 30 mL sample of this one to really nail the nuances, but it is sweeter from nose to finish than the 10 and seems to be missing some of that "X" factor that makes the 10 something I will reach for again and again. It shares some similarities with the 10 (peat, smoke, salt, iodine, fruit), but the smoke is a bit less pronounced and there is a slight added ash quality in the finish. The finish is shorter and lacks the lasting warming quality of the 10. This was nice to try, but I don't think I will try too hard to seek this one out for a more detailed tasting. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could, but 3 will have to suffice.

The nose is sweeter than the 10yo. It delivers sweet and salted caramel, some peat and vanilla. Maybe pear and banana as well. It seems a much more tamed expression than the Talisker Storm and the 10 yo. Taste: sweet, peat and alcohol. Then fresh fruits, lots of caramel and vanilla with a dry peat knocking at the door every now and then. The finish is rather short for a peated malt. With sour and peated notes without to much oak influence. It is worth mentioning that the famous Talisker chilly catch is turned down substantially, which is surprising for such a young and spirit driven whisky. Here in Germany the price difference between the Skye and 10yo is around 5 €, so I will always lean to the age statement but this NAS is not a bad choice either. (81/100)