PBMichiganWolverine
Talisker 8 Year (2018 Special Release)
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 19, 2019 (edited March 22, 2021)
After 2 weeks in Iceland without any whisky (or any alcohol for that matter—-it’s so freakin’ expensive there!!), I finally got back home and opened up this sample sent by my buddy @LeeEvolved .
So, after letting it sit out a bit, while catching up on some Hassan Minhaj and John Oliver, I took a sip. My first reaction was “ damn it...I CAN’T believe I got one at $50, and then sold it (was trying to reduce some bottles in my collection, and foolishly thought a young Talisker can’t be all that good) for $60!!” What the hell was I thinking? Dumbass. At $50 when it first came out, I should’ve bought a few. This is now unfortunately hard to get except at sky high prices in auction.
It’s 2 years younger than the 10, but acts a few years older. Closer to 18, but CS. You get meaty, salty notes, like a butcher shop next to an ocean. Then comes the classic Talisker pepper, but more brutish. Talisker at cask strength is as rough as it gets, but wow, this walks an amazing tightrope between rough and elegant. It’s what the 10 aspires to be.
This is simply an amazing must buy at the original $50 price. I don’t know what secondary pricing is now, but I’m guessing well over $150. I’d not be a buyer of it over $90, because I can get the Corry or Uigi and be just almost as satisfied. But at $50...pull up a truck ( damn it, can’t believe I sold mine!!), it’s a steal.
Solid 4.5 stars with a bump up considering original $50 pricing.
Did I mention how upset I am selling mine?
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@LeeEvolved LOL! I bet you that if I did take notes, it would still be random thoughts and sexy interns I dated.
@PBMichiganWolverine - and THAT is why a good portion of your reviews end up recalling sexy interns you dated, hot college coeds from your glory days and random fantasies you have...😆😆 But, if we’re being honest here, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You keep doing you, my friend. We don’t need more “I get lots of vanilla and oak barrel notes with this one” 🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂
@LeeEvolved wait, you actually take notes while sipping? Does everyone do that? I just sip, watch Netflix, and hopefully vaguely recall what I just sipped.
@worldwhiskies95 for one beer, it’s about $12. That’s the starting point. Iceland is expensive for everything...except amazing 8.2pH glacial water and the best salmon and Arctic char you’ll ever have
@LeeEvolved Wow that is shocking! :-)
@Soba45 - that’s just the thing- I drank through the entire bottle and never took a single note, so unless I get a sample from someone, there won’t be a review. That’s the shocking part 😆
@LeeEvolved 😱😱😱 Shocked, I'm just shocked I tell you.....haha ah that's whiskey for you, you think you are generally in alignment with certain people's tastes but there are always the exceptions. I felt the same way about the Laga 8 and 12. People loved them and I was a bit meh they aren't too bad. Can't wait for your review:-)
Must be crazy to hear how expensive alcohol is in Iceland to the extent you couldn’t even get a beer!
@Soba45 @Richard-ModernDrinking @PBMichiganWolverine - I guess I’m in the minority here...I wasn’t overly impressed with the 8. I thought it was way too salty and raw. I bought 3 when they went on sale for $76 and traded a bottle away a few months later. I think I have 1 bottle stashed away around here somewhere lol.
@PBMichiganWolverine I think there is a wide range of variation. I gave it a 4 but that was charitable to be honest. Definitely variation with the 25 year.. that was truly terrible!
@Soba45 I’m wondering if the 18 has significant batch variations. The one I had was really good. But I’m seeing mixed reviews for it
@Soba45 hopefully it’ll retain last year’s quality
@PBMichiganWolverine The rumour is the 8 yr 2018 was a test release and it could become permanent or at least a more regular special similar to the Laga 8 yr which was a special release in 2016 then became permanent.
@PBMichiganWolverine Yeah I do agree I think it's cos I love the profile so much it gives it a boost above similar drams of the age. If I had had a better experience with the 18 yr I would just stick with that. I'm tempted to purchase another bottle of that sometime as well but I'd be gutted if I got another dud.
@Soba45 I don’t know if I’d pay 150% of the original. It was good...but that good? Not sure. That’s a lot for an 8 yr old. I just did a search on SWA auction site, and seems like they sold for 100£ give or take in the last auction.
@Soba45 they’re coming out with another Talisker for this year’s special release? Hopefully it’ll be in the affordable category along the lines of their Lagavulin and Caol Ila.
@Richard-ModernDrinking I don’t have the slightest recollection—-I know it was around the 50 number—-but maybe it was in £ and not in $ ? Wasn’t more than that, I would’ve balked and bought an 18 instead for just over $100
I think what I love about this dram is that it's Talisker done right. I LOVE the Talisker profile but to often I've either had duds at the top end or rough and ready in terms of bottom end NAS's. Finally it's like year THIS is how it should be done.
Oh and if you think it's great at cask strength..a bit of water takes it up further a notch. I heard rumours that it was a test for a more permanent release but the question is if that is the case would the 2nd Edition be as good?
Damn I don't know what makes me more upset. The fact you got it for $50 and I now have to pay $130 or you offloaded it! Ah man it's been a year since I purchased any whole bottle and I finally broke down and got the 17 yr Solstice. This is definitely next in line.. just sticks in my throat I have to pay over 150% premium!
It was 70 pounds on release when I bought it. How did you get it for $50?
@Rick_M I don’t think any made it state-side. I got mine from TWE
@PBMichiganWolverine - was this available in the states? I don’t remember seeing it around.
Sounds amazing!