Talisker Skye was introduced in early 2015, named after the beautiful island on which the distillery resides. This expression brings with it a more well-rounded and sweet flavour profile packed with fresh citrus, sweet smoke, peppery spice and traditional Talisker maritime notes.
Talisker Skye is matured in a combination of refill and toasted American oak casks, with a slightly higher proportion of toasted casks. Talisker Skye whisky is perfect for those who perhaps find the classic Talisker flavour profile a bit too much, not to say that Talisker fans won't enjoy it too.
Sweet stuff, toffees and vanilla ice cream up front, almost grain-like. Becomes increasingly honeyed. There's a little coastal influence here too, just hints of a sweet Caol Ila perhaps, with very restrained smoke.
Honeyed toasted oak, sappy wood, only a little pepper and smoke, apple turnovers and hints of lemon and lime Opal Fruits. Fennel seeds.
Drying and slightly less sweet, hints of spice and smoke.
A more approachable, sweet Talisker. 'The Isle of Skye in June'.
Really unusual dram. Talisker signature palate, less some peat and white pepper. Not too bad. The finish is EXTREMELY drying, and sharpens to a point of pure toasted fennel seeds, almost like crunching one! Not sure I like spice quite enough to not be weirded out by this dram.
Most whiskeys play nice and safe, keeping within a risk free comfort zone of flavour. But this is a bold whiskey experience, distinctive and therefore memorable.
I've enjoyed many a Talisker - and have even been quite evangelical about the 18 year old. But the Skye variant tastes like something you should be cleaning the bathroom with. It's like whisky flavoured drain cleaner.
At the ripe old age of 50, Id like to think I know my way around a good whiskey, but hadn't cottoned on to the NAS trend. The only reason I know about it now is through researching why this Talisker, which was a gift from my mother in law, god bless her, is such a let down: synthetic, harsh and totally bereft of subtlety (the whisky, and also the mother in law, coincidentally). I hadn't noticed the lack of age statement before, if this is typical of the trend, I'll be sure to specify my gifts more carefully in the future. Clearly inferior to the 10yo. And not especially cheap.
If this dram was your mistress and say Highland Park was your wife.... well run to the mistress but stay with the wife... yes very exciting and masterful this Tally version beauty is.
