Scotch Review #58: Talisker The Distillers Edition (2017 Bottling)

Distillery: Talsiker

Region: Isle of Skye (Island)

ABV: 45.8%

Age: 10 Year (2007-2017)

Price: $60

Color: 1.4, Tawny. Unfortunately it is chill filtered and has had color added.

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Nose: A bit of a sweetness and a bit of wood. There’s caramel, some dark chocolate orange, seawater/brine, and a bit of smoke.

Palate: The mouthfeel is on the thinner side of things. There’s a bit of smoke and a bit of peat that make this pretty savory along with a bit of pepper and other spices. There is the slightest hint of chocolate. For something where Talisker advertised being finished in sherry casks, I couldn’t find any in here. Shame.

Finish: Medium in length. A little more smoke along with some bittersweet dark chocolate.

Conclusion: If you’re looking for a savory dram, this is probably a good one to go after. The nose is inviting with some nice notes that play well together—particularly the seawater and caramel. The palate doesn’t have any flavor that dominates but the combination of the smoke, peat, and peppers makes for quite a savory experience. The finish is a bit straightforward but contains enough dark chocolate to really tie everything together. If, like me, you were hoping to find some sherry influence—especially from the Amoroso casks Talisker lists—you will be disappointed. I couldn’t find any in the whisky, unfortunately. Still, it’s a decent whisky. Would I buy another bottle? Maybe. 

Final Score: 80.

Scotch whisky review #58, Island review #7, Whisky Network Review #76

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Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.