Talisker Storm

Olive brine, peat and hints of lemon peel on the nose. Medium mouthful, with a fair dose of liquid smoke, black pepper and hints of honey on the palate. The finish is woodsy, but surprisingly short. Overall, this is brinier than other Talisker expressions I have tried, but also quite light bodied. Not a bad dram, but certainly not as intense as the name would suggest. Storm chasers should look elsewhere.

An interesting Talisker to be sure. Not as subtle or complex as 18 nor as thorough and rich as 10, but with more time in the glass, it opens up to a more dynamic flavor. Smoke and sea salt are at the forefront of the nose, but behind them lie tart citrus and subtle honey. The palate is at first full of peat smoke and iodine, and the finish is dry and quick. But after more time in the glass, the palate mellows a bit and a bit of pear is present as well as mellow sweetness. I’ve tasted it a handful of time but never let it sit long enough, and with time it’s quite a pleasant dram!