Talisker No. 5 for me. 2021 Special Release 8, 10, 18, 57 North are already in the bag. All have been absolute hero’s. So there are huge expectations here. The marketing notes don’t fill me with confidence though: “Talisker Skye whisky is perfect for those who perhaps find the classic Talisker flavour profile a bit too much”. I think I’m finding I can’t tolerate people who don’t like Talisker. Yes, yes, taste is a personal preference blah blah blah. However, sometimes opinions are just wrong. Talisker is amazing and shouldn’t be dialled down for anyone, not even you grandma. N: pleasant and approachable. Slightly sweet with a little medicinal brine. Pear and smoke are restrained and lack the heft of other classic Talisker offerings. Slightly grain like perhaps with the sweetness. As this sits in the glass I find the sweetness to be honey like and sticky but I don’t think it sits well with the mild maritime smoke. I’m conflicted already. P: A little thin. No notably oily, syrupy, creamy or full bodied textures surface. Mild Talisker maritime smoke with a peppery chilli tingle are forward. A little toasty-malty note and perhaps a lemon rind citrus. There’s a little fruity juicy salivation inducing element right towards the end of the palate, perhaps pear. F: Medium. drying with plenty of pepper and a slightly sweet maltiness. The maritime smoke and saltiness of Talisker are most apparent here. Ok. The tasting notes were warning enough. This is Talisker on sedatives. Everything I love about Talisker is here, but it’s been toned down and subdued. That toning down has not been for the benefit of any one texture, profile, or note; but rather to the detriment of them all. I don’t understand the point of this. Talisker, thou shalt not take thy name (or Skyes) in vain! Truth be told; it’s still better than a lot of drain water out there but it is a disappointing caricature of what Talisker are known for. Something tells me this is the blended bottled dregs of barrels that failed to be deemed good enough for the great Talisker bottlings. Diageo: shade thrown. Distiller whisky taste #121