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'.
As someone who prefers big peaty flavours I have been pleasantly surprised by Talisker Skye. It perfectly balances the smoke and seaspray with a lovely burnt Apple sweetness that is compelling. Great value too if you get it from a Supermarket and preferable to Highland Park and Laphroig.
Great, I was given a bottle of this by a well meaning friend, I confess I didn't pay much attention to the label, after all its Talisker. How wrong I was, I'm no connoisseur but Talisker has always been something of a favorite, one of the few I was happy to drink without a dash of water. I found this version was harsh and unsubtle. The sad thing is I shall now have to tell my family and friends not to buy me Talisker as there's a very good chance they won't study the detail of the label. Such a great shame.
Serious smoke and iodine with sweet toffee developing into a white pepper almost chilli heat finish takes a bit of getting used to with the hot finish but certainly a very welcome talisker.
Fair as an entry level, but the Talisker 10 is cheaper and more complex, a better option. Less peat, citrusy, some salt. Short finish, still sweet.
Not really what I expect from Talisker. It’s drinkable, but that shouldn’t be how I feel about a bottle of Talisker. Little punch. Little flavour. Unfortunately it’s an increasing trend. Whether it’s because the industry can’t keep up with global demand or just that they want to milk the market, this seems like another example of a year-less entry level bottle (like Macallan, Glenlivet etc) which slightly sullies the brand. If the industry keeps churning out unimaginative and bland stuff like this, they’re not going to hook the next generation with the stunning, mind boggling flavours that enthralled me 30ish years ago. Scotch whisky has survived over 150 years on the quality of its product and I worry that that they are foregoing that quality to meet demand, relying on ‘celebrities’ drinking the stuff in publicity shots. But ultimately, they’ll have no defence when the core of their market fall away as the product, including this one, just ain’t up to it.
