This is a re-taste of the same bottle that I reviewed about a year ago when it was freshly opened. It was finally nearing the end, so the time came to put it out of its misery. Nose: Aromatic smoke that is not as oily/bracken-scented as an Islay, nor soft and heathery like an Orkney. It is uniquely maritime and briny, being reminiscent of the smell of a steamship. There are also warm baking spices and nutty fragrances of fresh-baked ginger snaps and an underpinning meaty heft. A faint menthol/camphor note cements everything else together. Palate: An arrival of exquisite, complex smoke wafting over hard salt toffee. Faintly anise rather than caramel heavy but softened with a touch of honey-water, dusky orange and milk chocolate. The trademark Talisker kick of hot ginger and chili powder appears in the mid development but it’s mellow and refined here in comparison to the powerhouse that is the 10 year old. Finish: Medium/long, the salty/sweet/spicy smoke echoes away into the distance. This whisky remained stable throughout its life in the bottle, the final dram being very like the first. I did generously flood the bottle with argon gas after each opening, which most likely helped to reduce oxidization, but even so it was extremely consistent. It’s an amazingly well balanced and assured whisky with great depth. The nose is both assertive and gently finessed - a steel fist in a velvet glove – and the palate is a joy. Talisker’s distillery character is midway between the earthy strength of Campbeltown, the robust smoke of Islay and the hefty, waxy meatiness of the upper-east coastal highlands. This is one of those whiskies that can only be tasted at the end of a flyte or followed by something even more magnificent, as it will eclipse any lesser dram. It swims well and is delicious either neat or with a dash of water, as you prefer. This is an easily obtainable and relatively affordable desert island dram. "Excellent" : 89/100 (4.75 stars) ------------------------------------------------------- [Originally reviewed on Distiller April 30, 2017] Nose: Light aromatic smoke, spices, salty maritime aromas and an underpinning meaty heft. Just wonderful. Palate: Exquisite smoke wafting over sweet salt toffee, but not burdened by caramel heaviness. Sweet, but not heavy honey - more like malty milk chocolate and light syrup. Suddenly, the trademark Talisker kick of chili or ground dry red pepper appears. Finish: Medium. The salty/sweet/spicy smoke fades away gracefully leaving a subtle fruity-smoke and brine aftertaste. This is whiskymaking of the highest quality, and one of my top shelf malts. So amazingly well balanced and assured with great depth and poise. Power, but with finesse of expression. Adding a dash of water makes this so enticingly drinkable it is almost dangerous. Marvellous stuff. “Excellent" : 89/100 (4.75 stars) [AUD$155.0 per Bottle in 2017] -------------------------------------------------------