LeeEvolved
Talisker Storm
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
March 17, 2018 (edited September 30, 2018)
Original review from Sept 2016 (transferred from Barreled):
Once again, I have the pleasure of doing an interesting side by side comparison. Tonight it's Talisker's Storm and Dark Storm. I'd like to thank @Generously_Paul for helping make this possible.
Sitting both side by side the Storm is clearly the lighter of the two. It's still a rich golden color that reminds me of apple juice. The Dark Storm earns its namesake as it's a deeper copper like that of a slightly worn penny. (Obviously the effect of the heavily charred casks used). Both leave nice, silky long legs down the glass after a bit of a hearty swirl. If I'm reading it correctly both come in at exactly the same 91.6 proof.
On the nose the Storm gets a bit of a nod because you can clearly smell fresh apples and pears mingling with the peat smoke and light sea salt. The Dark Storm kind of leaves the fruit in the basket and comes across as more of an Islay-style smoky scotch with some caramel or toffee sweetness. They both smell fantastic I must say. Different, but nice.
On the tongue is where I guess I hoped they would show some sort of lineage connection. I knew the peat smoke was there but I want to see these guys show me they are kindred spirits (ha, a pun).
The Storm lets loose all the oak barrel characteristics claimed on the label: lively pepper spice, some vanilla and that subtle fruitiness I noticed from the nosing. The smoke blankets your tongue after the finish and hangs out to keep you warm. What a nice dram.
The Dark Storm is totally predictable, but not in a bad way whatsoever. Silky smooth peat smoke filling your entire mouth and washing away with a thicker, oily essence that identifies with an ominous storm rolling in from off the ocean. An excellent dram on its own.
In closing, I think the name Storm doesn't necessarily apply. I don't imagine fruit and lively oak spice when I think of a storm, but Dark Storm is definitely aptly named. For the first time, I can't say I prefer one over the other. They both offer a distinctly different experience and I could be perfectly happy settling into a hammock by the beach, sipping either one waiting for said storm to roll in.
Four stars for each, both based on different experiences. In this side by side battle the clear winner was me. I believe they both run somewhere north of $70 a piece and if you have to choose one then you're still missing out. Save up and snag them both when you can. Cheers, my friends.
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