Talisker 18 Year Old

As with all Talisker, the nose is exactly what you expect, with the volume turned up. Someone who didn’t spend time with this liquid could definitely be underwhelmed...but it’s so not. Those 18 years in Sherry/bourbon almost give me Distillery edition vibes of that pure Sherry, but there is much more underneath to be discovered. A must for Tally fans.

25th December 2020

I must say I am not a Talisker fan boy. I had couple bottles before this one, the 10 yo which was very average, the 57 north which I did not like much (thanks to this earthy peat and strong chili note) and the Talisker DE that I actually really enjoyed. I bought this bottle with no particulare expectations.
It is by far the best Talisker I ever had and simply one of my favorite whisky. A bit like the Sprinbank 10yo, this whisky has everything, so many aroma and sooooo well balanced. The peat is obvious but do not takes over and it still has this particular salinity that makes this Talisker one of a kind. I am very suprised and happy to finaly find out what great job Talisker can do. A must have on his shelf !

29th October 2020

I like a whisky that is smoky, peaty, with a subtle sweetness and a touch of spice... Talisker 18y/o blends those characteristics to the point of pure perfection with a complexity of taste, nose and finish that really makes you think.

It certainly isn’t cheap, that’s for sure, and whether it is worth almost treble the price of the 10y/o Talisker is open to debate, but for me it ticks every box, and is the perfect drop to put in a decanter and savour when you fancy something a bit special.

12th September 2020

I had 2-3 glasses of this one earlier this year. The way it delivers, comes in smooth and matured.

I say it's one of the greats, but I didn't really like it too much. The flavour profile didn't match 100% to my taste buds.

But, it's really smooth and tasty, you don't notice the burn.

7th June 2020

Wonderful dram, very complex and very restrained, the saltiness and peat are not at the forefront but linger in the background whilst the peppery, malty, fruitiness take over. This isn't Sherry bombed fruit though, this is stone fruit, with some stewed apple notes. It's really good but, once left go open up for a few weeks, fantastic. 100% recommend.

14th May 2020

Considering this is Talisker, famed for it's peat/saltiness, this is a surprising delicate dram which is really well rounded and very different from the classic 10 (which I love). The first nosing after opening the bottle is heavily phenolic, metallic, and intense, and not unlike the 10 in some ways. After a few days open this typical harshness melts away and it is all sweetness and fruit and very little of that typical character. The saltiness is always there, and it's what makes it stand out as a really exceptional dram, but it is delicate and understated. I like this a lot and think it is a really good, sophisticated dram - but I could understand someone who was a passionate 10 yr old fan, a peat head lets say, being somewhat underwhelmed, as it does not have that in-your-face character. I really like it - but would I buy this or the 10 next time? Honestly the 10 is so good for it's price i'd probably opt for it, but this is worth your time and worth trying.

3rd May 2020

This is a truly astonishing whisky.

Compress the taste of seaside, toffee and smoke, add a massive dose of delicious and you have it. The 10yo is good. This is different gravy.

6th March 2020

This is the best whisky I have ever tasted, and that is far too many. The combination of oak, smoke and sweetness is just astonishing. The bouquet is an enticing hint of what is to come, but the flavour, whilst quite peaty, is just fill of toffee. Its smooth, deep, complex and dangerously moorish.

23rd February 2020

Given that, usually, I can buy the Talisker 10 locally for £30, I have to ask is this 18yo worth the extra £46 - and the answer is yes and no. I certainly prefer it to the 10yo - it's got a bit more of everything - the peat, the smoke, the pepper, fruit and oak - but more rounded and balanced and without the sourness in the finish which doesn't agree with me. However, I was reading recently in Charles MacLean's book 'Spirit of Place' that the vast majority of the spirit distilled at Carbost is tankered down to the central belt to be casked and stored before being chill-filtered and colour added. Compare that to the £63 Springbank 15 which is produced entirely in Campbeltown (start to finish) and bottled at 46%, non-chillfilered with no artificial colouring. So, did I enjoy my drams of Talisker 18? Yes I did. But when my Springbank and Talisker bottles are empty, guess which one I'll be replacing!

17th February 2020

I clearly had a different experience than others here. I tried this tonight for the first time and was actually quite disappointed. I found it to be primarily malt-forward, with any notes of peat or oak influence nearly completely muted. It felt flat. I expected more depth from an 18 year, especially from Talisker. This may be due to me trying it at an establishment that I got the impression doesn't move it frequently so perhaps it has oxidised a bit, or maybe I'm just searching for a reason. Either way I expected more. I'll try it again at a more trusted establishment, but until I revisit this whiskey my assessment will remain.

26th December 2019