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Talisker 10 Year
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
January 27, 2021 (edited July 22, 2022)
(#1) Fellow Distiller @WhiskeyLonghorn recently posted his top 5 Whiskeys of 2020 and I thought it was such a great idea that I'm stealing it. To qualify, a whiskey did not need to be new, just new to me in 2020...so there will be some tried and true staples mixed in with the new releases on my list. I was able to narrow my list of 14 possibilities to 7 fairly quickly, but going from 7 to 5 proved a little tougher. Honorable Mentions will make an appearance after Whiskey #1. I won't bore you with a full re-review of each, but will give an overall impression. Should you want to read the full review, you shouldn't have to scroll too deeply in my tastes to find them. So...without further ado, I present my Number 1 Whiskey of 2020...
Boooooooring! Available 365 days a year nearly everywhere that sells whiskey, this may seem like a mundane choice for my 2020 Whiskey of the Year, but rest assured it competes with just about any Special Release that can be had for under $100. The Nose featured Sweet Burnt Caramalized BBQ Sauce and Tropical Fruits. The Palate was Smoke, Honey, Papaya & Mango. What sealed the deal for me on this one was the Finish. Looooong, with Jalapeño Pepper and a building effervescent quality. A charred Pineapple aftertaste that lasted for hours after my Glencairn was dry. In fact, my notes claimed that the finish on this one definitely moved it into consideration for my Favorite Whisky. Ever. File this one under "What the Hell Took You So Long". Glad 2020 was the year this one joined the collection.
So there it is. My top 5 for 2020. I think it's a pretty solid list (and all were had for less than $75), but I would like to name a few honorable mentions that just barely missed the Top 5...
*Dickel BIB (11YR): Almost the equal of the 13YR, but not quite.
*Yamazaki 12: Age stated Japanese is rare and my most expensive bottle of 2020.
*WhistlePig PiggyBack 6YR: Checked a lot of the herbaceous boxes that I love.
*4 Roses Small Batch Select: A unique profile and readily available for around $60.
Here's to Great Whiskey and Better Times in 2021!
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@PBMichiganWolverine I still have a bottle of the 8 year stuck in Australia with the in laws..covid-19 put paid to my plans to recover it... it'll be worth a fortune in 2030 when we can finally travel again and i can collect it..haha
@BDanner Got the Storm in SC for $54 a few months ago, they had plenty at Total Wine. Good value compared to the 10Y.
Pleasantly working through a bottle of it this past month. Nice choice for #1.
@PBMichiganWolverine The Yamakazi was the only one on my list over $100 and I only purchased it because I thought I may never see it again. I'm definitely budget conscious in my selections. Everything on my list (with the exception of the Booker's which was released a few years ago) is available for MSRP or less most everywhere. 2021 may be a little more challenging as I fear my Spirits budget is about to take a hit due to personal circumstances.
@BDanner what I like about your top 5 picks are that it’s readily available and affordable. No need for hunting obscure places or shelling out a mortgage level payment. The only one I’ve tried on that list was the Yamazaki 12, over 10 years ago when it was only $30-40. I didn’t like it back then, but to be fair, it was after having the Yamazaki 18
@PBMichiganWolverine the GOT Edition I picked up at a good buy got me interested in this one. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for other releases. @Zachary-Robbins the Storm has disappeared in my area, at least. Used to see it all the time. @WhiskeyLonghorn agreed! The nose on the empty glass and the aftertaste kept me entertained for a while. Thanks for allowing me to co-opt (nice word for steal) your idea.
@BDanner this is a classic. Up there with Ardbeg 10 and Lag 16. If you want a bit more oomph, check out the Special Release 8 yr old Talisker
Excellent choice
I highly recommend the Distiller's Edition, and Storm, and probably ever other Talisker expression.
I used to see this for mid 40s now its mid 70s......so good though
Love it! One of my first and enduring favorites. Best empty glass aroma in the game. Great list!
I'll drink to that