Talisker 10 year old single malt is a classic Island whisky from the Isle of Skye. Aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks, this welcome member of Diageo's Classic Malts series has been recognised numerous times for its excellence. Immensely satisfying stuff, with whiffs of warm peat blending with coastal air, balanced by orchard fruit and juicy barley. A spectacular after dinner dram.
It was an Editor's Choice at Whisky Magazine, a gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 and was awarded 'Best Islands Single Malt' at the 2017 World Whiskies Awards.
A fresh and fragrant nose. Through thick, pungent smoke comes sweet pear and apple peels, with pinches of maritime salt from kippers, seaweed.
It's a bonfire of peat crackling with black pepper, with a touch of brine and dry barley. A welcome delivery of orchard fruit provides a delicate and beautiful balance.
In a long finish, bonfire embers toast malt and crystallise a sugary underlay.
I'm really not a fan of peaty, smoky whisky. My Dad and father in law both love Laphroig and I've had a couple of glasses with them but would never choose it for myself. At a recent wedding I was bought a glass of Tallisker and loked forward to tasting a new one for me. On the nose was the dreaded peat and smoke to the point that Ithought it was Laphroig and suggeted we had been given the wrong whisky. Having been assured this was what we had ordered I had a taste and was very pleasantly surprised. It was peat and smoke but not too much. It took a few sips to get used to but I genuinely enjoyed it. Later in the evening another friend presented me with aglass that turned out uto be Tallisker and I enjoyed it more than the first. I don't think I'm ready to buy bottle of the stuff yet but this might very well be my route into this style of whisky. Does anybody really enjoy their first beer or whisky? These things are acquired tastes and Tallisker will probably make this process all the easier.
I love my peaty scotches and thus fell in love with Talisker. The last reviewer hit the nail on the head - there is a great pepper taste that comes through with the smoke. The finish is very long and this has become one of my favorite drams
Being a peat lover, I immediately loved this whisky. I was quite surprised by the taste of pepper, I had previously read it in reviews but I didn't expect such a strong flavour! Citrus notes are present as well as salt. Smoke and peat are not as strong as a Laphroaig 10 but it is highly enjoyable!
I have been drinking single malts for 10 years and as a Scotsman have tried a fair few but just keep going back for more talisker I have recently tried the skye and storm and although enjoyable they are just not on the same level as the 10 year old there is no other malt in the 10 year old bracket as I sit here with the stove burning away I can only say the feeling of pure satisfaction talisker gives is unrivalled in my opinion talisker is what single malt scotch should be although I regard laphroaig not a midges ball hair behind talisker.
I am the classic cliché, started off with an Aberfeldy 12 (really nice and mellow), then a Dalwhinnie 15 (slightly underwhelming), Then a Highland Park Einar (lovely), then an Arran 14 (absolutely awesome). I thought however it was time to step up, as others have advised I bought a Talisker 10, first dram I thought 'this is weird and I am not sure' then by the second dram I was instantly hooked on the peaty medicinal taste and realised that all the previous whiskeys regardless of region were really different versions of the same drink, whereas this was something new and I think I am addicted. I am now off to buy the Ardbeg 10 and looking forward to that first dram, then it will be a Lagavullin 16
