LouisianaLonghorn
Talisker Distillers Edition
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
September 27, 2019 (edited June 4, 2021)
Ok, let’s talk.
I was dubious for a while about the Diageo Distillers Editions. I still am. Most of them don’t have great reviews or are bottles at 40%. No thanks.
Then along comes this one. This is unmistakably Talisker (brine, peat, pepper) but with a little extra. The sherry finish gives it a wonderful perfume-like nose that shouldn’t work with Talisker but somehow does. It’s get better on the palate as brine and pepper are integrated with flavors of sweet figs and raisins. Sweet and savory. The finish and the empty glass are a masterful combination of peat and sweet that lingers for days. Love it!
For you folks out there who are interested in bottle years, I got my hands on a 2015 version. The bottle itself is stylish (it looks like the same bottle that Lag 16 comes in) and the label is classy with all the necessary information. I’m giving this just shy of five stars because the Talisker 10 was what got me to fall in love with Scotch and it is perfect to me, so to rate any variation on that theme higher seems like heresy.I’d highly recommend this one without any hesitation for the well healed Talisker fan. Cheers!
88.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@PBMichiganWolverine I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right. I’ve noticed this mostly in Diageo and Edrington products that quality has gone down while price has gone up along with their bottom lines. Seems like every bottle of Talisker or Lag I buy has higher diminishing returns in price vs. quality.
@WhiskeyLonghorn I’m wondering if the older vintages just hold up better. I last had this years ago, and that did hold up extremely well. Admittedly, I’ve not had one since then
I’m updating this score from a 4.75 to a 4. This bottle didn’t take time or air well, and developed some unpleasant sour and soapy qualities. I was able to salvage it by blending in some Talisker 10, bit that shouldn’t be happening. Talisker seems to have a quality control problem on their hands lately.
On sale for $75 here in NYC, looking to pull the trigger!
Talisker 10 tasting at Talisker also got me to fall in love with Scotch. What an amazing elixir. There is magic on the isle of skye and it gets worked into this ambrosia.
Great review! And exciting...our state liquor monopoly here in NH offered a rare gift a few months ago by putting the DE on sale for $59, so i quickly snagged a bottle. I have yet to try it since I'm working through a variety of open bottles, but I'm really looking forward to cracking it open!
One of my favorites. This aroma, for some strange reason, always takes me back to my childhood: wafts of samosas and coriander chutney from my mom’s cooking