From the Isle of Skye comes this Talisker single malt, which has spent 18 years in casks which previously held bourbon and sherry. A sweet and smoky malt, a must have for any Talisker fan. If you weren’t already convinced, this fabulous dram picked up the title Best Whisky in the World at the 2007 World Whiskies Awards too.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose
Quite clean and fresh. There is a mixed fruity sweetness with a spicy character. The peat and smoke rise with notes of perfume and thick oak. Hints of Calvados and a touch of acidity with ground ginger.
Palate
Thick, rich and full-bodied. Notes of spicy, peppery oak, espresso beans and wood smoke. A little allspice creeps in, there is a certain zesty character lurking somewhere. The spice builds and builds with utter intent.
Finish
Long, with peppery oak.
Winner of 3 spirit awards
Double Gold
Single Malt Scotch - 13 to 19 Yrs - 2022
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Gold
Islands Single Malt 13 to 20 Years - 2016
World Whiskies Awards
Master
Highlands & Islands 13-18yo - 2015
The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
Allergy Information
This product does not contain any notifiable allergens
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.
Master of Malt Customer May 3, 2020
An extraordinary dram
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.
Master of Malt Customer Mar 6, 2020
Dangerous.
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.
Mark Feb 23, 2020
Is this good? Yes and No
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!
Robert Smith Feb 17, 2020
Had high hopes, left underwhelmed.
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.
