Talisker Diageo Special Release 2023 “The Wild Explorador”

Scotch Whisky Review #491: Talisker Diageo Special Release 2023 “The Wild Explorador”

Distillery: Talisker.

Region: Island.

Age: NAS.

ABV: 59.3%.

Cask Type: White, Tawny and Ruby Port Finish.

Color: 1.1, Burnished.

This is the 19th installment of this years’ Christmas Countdown. You can check out previous editions as well (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).

Nose: The port finish is very, very apparent here. I think it has to be the white port really standing out, it smells very similar to a white port Ruadh Maor I had about a year ago. It has the same stinky, smelly balsamic vinegar note but it is a little milder. Perhaps more akin to the smell you get as you’re reducing balsamic vinegar in a pan. There is a bit of peat that comes through to balance out out the port. It’s a bit meaty, canned corned beef was what came to mind.

Palate: It is easier to drink than most of its siblings from this year’s Diageo Special Release lineup undiluted but there’s oddly not a ton going on at full strength. A bit of water does bring it to life though. The port is at the forefront but it hasn’t taken over entirely. Balsamic reduction is the most noticeable note here. Along with it, you do get a bit of salty sea air, a bit of roasted seaweed (not the thin Korean/Japanese style sheets, more of a thick slab of it), and a bit of leather. After letting it sit for a little, you get a bit of industrial grime and grunge to go along with the sweeter balsamic reduction and the maritime notes.

Finish: Medium to long in length. Strong peat and soot notes.

Conclusion: When I first took a whiff of this, I immediately thought that Diageo had another miss in this year’s lineup with another whisky that’s been dominated by the cask. Thankfully though that doesn’t seem to be the case here. The Talisker survives the very strong port influence and delivers some really nice maritime notes to balance things out. The more industrial/grungy/sooty notes remind me more of Diageo’s Islay distilleries than Talisker itself leaving me wondering if they used a more heavily peated distillate than we normally see out of Skye. The white port being a little strong on the nose can be a bit off-putting but overall this is a fun one that I can imagine peat heads will really enjoy.

Rating: 80.

Scotch Whisky Review #491, Island Review #78, Whisky Network Review #655

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Leave a comment