Talisker Storm

Spicy, peaty, oily and smoky. Just what the doctor ordered.

Nose: Musty, sweet, light peat,brine Palate: Full, light peat, brine, sweet, spice Finish: lingers My favorite all around Scotch. Very well balanced.

Smoky, peaty, peppery nose, with a creamy, salty/sweet mouthfeel.

Nose: Mild peat smoke, brine, sulphur, banana. The nose becomes more honied and leathery after a rest in the glass and the nose is WAY more fragrant and floral with a dash of water. Palate: Good arrival with salt ‘n peppered malt and some sweet chilli. Mineral notes (the faintest hint of mescal) and oak tannin playing off honey and maple syrup. There is a smoky quality but it is subtle. Again, a dash of water greatly improves this whisky making the texture creamy and softening the whole profile in a charming manner. Finish: Medium. Faint smoke, salted chocolate fading to a sweet aftertaste. The finish is much softened by reduction. The nose has an unmistakable whiff of fermentation sulphur and while that is welcome in some malts (Springbank, Ben Nevis, Mortlach etc.) it is not carried as well by Talisker. It does, however, fade very quickly in the glass leaving a malty, leafy quality. The palate is fine and the finish is fine … overall this is … fine. This is my first taste of Storm in 5 years (thank you to @DrRHCMadden for the sample) and it is of the expression in the new livery. However, looking at my previous tasting notes below, this seems to be essentially the same whisky as I tasted in 2019 and I would again suggest taking it with a good splash of water. I previously rated this at 4 stars, but I must have been in a very good mood that day because it’s not worth that much so I’m reducing the rating to something more rational this time. It's a fine session whisky but it is overshadowed by the better, but similarly priced, Talisker 10 Year. And again I’m scratching my head at the name. This is a gentle shower … a passing squall at best. It ain’t no storm. “Good” 84/100 (3.75 stars) --------------------------------------------------- Previous review: September 6, 2019. Nose: Mildly briny smoke (more like fruity wood smoke than peat-reek), citrus peel, a slight mineral iodine note (eliciting sea breezes), some mossy peat, a hint of honey. [The dry glass is mild ashy smoke with a sweet tone]. Palate: Sweet and spicy arrival, opening into a smoky development with citrus fruit and capsicum. There's a little black pepper but it's restrained in comparison to other Talisker expressions and the sweet character returns on the late palate. The texture is fairly neutral but improved by reduction, which adds creaminess. Finish: Medium/short. Ashy smoke and some brine on the aftertaste. This is well named as there is a definite maritime quality to this malt, with the nose convincingly conveying the impression of a brisk sea breeze before a tempest. However the eponymous storm loses its force before landfall and is not the expected blustery sou'wester, crashing on the Atlantic rocks of Skye. This is more a light squall - a little threatening at sea, but romantic and cosy if on shore. It certainly doesn't rattle the windows of the bothy like the Dark Storm expression, or blow them off the hinges like the 57 Degrees North. Adding a dash of water does this dram no harm at all. The nose coalesces and broadens while the palate picks up some sweet notes and mutes its spice. This is maybe not what a confirmed Talisker-head would like, but I'd commend it to beginners It's a pleasant and most acceptable whisky crafted to appeal to landlubbers. In fact if properly watered this would be an admirable first "smoky" dram. The official comments here are pretty much on the money, but I don't think it's worth 88/100. It's an appealing whisky but not earth shattering - in Australia for about $5 more you can buy Talisker 10, which is whisky with balls. There is also, if you taste it dispassionately, more than a passing similarity to certain blended scotches, and I have to confess that now I'm a quarter of the way through the bottle I've given up on tasting it neat or with water, and instead I've been using it up as a mixer instead of my usual bottom-shelf blend. It's great in this role but I guess that's damning with faint praise. "Very Good" : 86/100 (4 stars)

N - Brine and Pear T - salt water taffy, charred wood with hints of cherry F - same earthy peat that I love from the 10 with light pepper I think for the price point this is a solid whisky. As I’ve seen others say it’s not as nuanced as the 10 but that’s ok. I enjoy the brininess of this expression. The charred barrels give me a small bit of cherry hidden in there. The Talisker style peat is very comforting and that rings true here too.

Strong peaty taste, but very good, very elegant.