Talisker Storm

I love Whisk(e)y! From Kentucky to Cork to the Isle of Skye. To me there is no such thing as a bad whisky (some are just better than others). I love sweet whiskies, I love smokey whiskies, I love whiskies that were matured in a variety of casks. Talisker 10 is just one of fifty whiskies that I love. And although I love the Storm, I think that the 10 is a wee bit more to my loving. I do love the price of the Storm.

18th June 2020

I am continually shocked that Talisker Storm gets anything above one star. In fact, this whiskey is so bad I'd give it the black hole rating. It's so powerfully bad it sucks the stars from other whiskeys. 100% of the samples I've given to friends with no biased comments ahead of time results in a negative reaction. It's hard to describe the flavor. Without joking, the closest I can come is the smell the came out of the old, rusted paint can that had been stored in my garage for two decades where the liquid separated from the solids.

25th May 2020

First taste is a surprising one. Strong and smoky but the second lends to warmth and a smoothness I wasn’t expecting. Is a very fine straight drinking whisky

23rd March 2020

Brilliant! My favourite of all tbe single malts
I love the hints of scents of waves crashing on rocks, its hints of seaweed, iodine and the fragrsnt medicinal tones.

21st March 2020

Whilst I generally prefer a speyside, I always have a bottle of Storm on hand. For me this is a coastal bonfire, great when you fancy something with a kick. If you have a winter fire burning or have just eaten a spicy curry this is ideal. I found the Talisker Skye too medicinal and the Talisker 10 a little too sweet (even though I normally love sweet whiskies). Good price, sometimes this is on sale which makes it great value. Pretty smooth for a no age statement whisky, young but not immature. Worth a pop.

18th March 2020

I wasn't sure about this when I first opened it, being a big 10y fan. But as the bottle crept a little lower it's reqlly opened up and lost some harsh notes. A great whisky when you want something with a bit of a kick.

2nd March 2020

This was the first ever bottle of whiskey I brought when we visited Scotland and went to skye, and even to this day with a much more advanced palete for whiskey than when i started i still adore this one, talisker is not for everyone though as there taste notes are quite unique with being by the sea, scents and flavours of sea salt, peaty smoke, fudge and caramel sweetness, i however love them.

20th February 2020

Whisky is a very personal business and what you like is very down to your palate. For me Talisker is my absolute favourite and what I always come back to. I experiment with differenct malts but whenever I pour and sip Talisker it makes me smile and tastes just perfecg. This is lovely. Tastes and smells of the sea. Cant wait for my visit to the Distillery this year.

2nd February 2020

No good!

31st January 2020

If you want a solid single malt with a sneaky bit of peat it's a good option. Would buy again.

9th January 2020

Bought this on sale would never buy again taste like a new car smells ....never licked a new car but probably would still taste better .....$50 learning lesson i guess

29th December 2019

My husband and I love it. We were used to buying it in CO at $40-45 a bottle. We called it our house Scotch. We moved to to New Mexico and can’t find it for under $82. What’s up with that? Thank you.

28th August 2019

It was one of the most disappointing whiskeys I’ve ever tasted. Smoking but not in a good way, and I like the peaty malts.

20th July 2019

A nice dram if you're looking for something with a bit more bite than a speyside.

A nice briny nose and I suppose is the chilli smell as described but I'd say it's more peppery and some citrus. Palate is thick and with a hint of chilli but I didn't quite get the smoke, then again I've been drinking Islays recently, but it is there as a subtle undertone beneath the chilli and brine. Got a decent complexity to it with a kick to boot.

If you see it for around £30 (offer on at Tesco) get a bottle! I tend to find that Talisker whiskies are completely different from any other whisky I've tried. If you like your whiskies salter than a sea dog then it's in a league of its own.

29th June 2019

Initially aggressively smoky and briny but when water is added nose becomes amazingly sweet and fruity with citrus and nutty nuances, however still briny. In the palate full bodied, hot chilly and wood smoky nuences can be noted. Oaky and very smoky aftertaste deserves appreciation and its taste lasts so long in the palate.

7th April 2019

At first the smoky, peaty character shines through; quite welcome for those lovers of islay whiskeys (lagavulin, ardberg) like myself. The more I drink it, however, the more pronounced become the fruity, floral notes present itself on the palate, as if a highland whiskey were masked therein. Yet it always finishes with that special, brilliant peatiness that many of us are always chasing and which makes Scotch so peculiar and special in this world. Have a go.

27th March 2019

It's sweet but there is enough smoke, peat, and other hints going on with this to make it a great buy. Once a year this goes on sale and if you find it for $45 or under I would say grab 2.

28th February 2019

With lots of peppers and smoke this one brings good value for money. Not as smoky as whiskys from Islay south coast, but more than the 10 yo Talisker. I still prefer the 10 yo but this one is good too.

E

27th January 2019

Like many comments worse whiskey ever tried - tastes of TCP and now used to clean the sink! Very disappointed as I have tried and like so many others of similar scotches and thoroughly enjoyed. Suggest you put it with the cleaner fluids!

3rd January 2019

No Matter, what I sample and try of all the classic whiskys, I always come back to Talisker as the standard

25th December 2018

If you know whisky then you know talisker. Popular in most bars this unique tasting dram wreaks of the ocean from whence it came. Instantly recognisable it has all the characteristics you'd expect from an islay. Heavy bonfire smoke, rich and oily the brine of the north sea. Like most expressions from talisker it carries a hefty abv and by god do you feel its power. It can be opened up nicely with a drop of water like most big hitters but is best enjoyed without in my humble opinion. Not much i can add on tasting notes that the brilliant palettes at M.o.M haven't covered. I prefer it to the 10 and the skye but thats just me.

10th October 2018

The best Malt of them all. I love this single malt but then I am a keen sailor and I love the smell of the sea. The blend of different ages of the same single malt works magnificently and whoever does the age mixing has a superb palate.


I will buy this over any other Malt and although I like a little Glenlivet from time to time it is shallow in comparison.

18th August 2018

Overly sweet, as opposed to sherried or port aged malts the sweetness doesn't carry a complex taste, it's more like someone decided to add some good spoons of sugar to the destillate. Peat is present, but also not that complex. On a plus note the whisky is quite smooth and has a medium to long finish and is pretty cheap of course. Like Louis van Gaal probably once said 'All goods are for his money' in other words 'You get what you pay for.'

23rd July 2018

When first smelled I thought it had an Anise type smell to it.
Taste ended up being different than the smell. Had a peat mossy smoke taste with a good earthy flavor. Really smooth and easy. Quite a nice little dram. I did not try it with drops of water like the bartender suggested.

20th July 2018

My goodness this one doesn't muck about! I really can't tell how old this might be. It certainly doesn't taste thin, or harsh except in the ways it is obviously supposed to. My suspicion is that this one has been released at 6.5-8 years old, just enough time to let the harshness subside, with the emphatic flavouring being tasked to provide both body and a touch of concealment, but the management decided not to trap themselves in that maturity, so one year it might be 6.5, another 8, another who knows? I suspect that some years from now we will all be lamenting the old Talisker Storm, as stocks of well-matured spirit dwindle, but since this is an acquired taste, I believe it might hold on for longer than most. Comparing this full, emphatic dram to the new anaemic and insulting NAS Glenlivet shows just how much integrity Talisker still have. I wonder if they have been fortunate enough NOT to be landed with a new Marketing wizzkid?
Anyway, this is a dram to take one's time on. Salt, medicine, a touch of lemon and peat smoke. Great to complete a meal in which stout white fish has featured. One thing does show its youth: the palate, while strong and characterful, does not have that all-encompassing "Whoof" of torque which comes from a big hitter at its fighting weight. but to even be discussing that aspect of such an affordable whisky shows how good it is. Talisker are to roundly applauded for releasing such a Maltman's malt.

16th June 2018

Thin coatline. Legs slow to run, oily and waxy.
Nose - Not getting any briney notes. Always thought Talisker casks were matured mostly in the central belt far from the maritime influence of the islands. Nose changes to pepper with time.
Orange and vanilla, honey, sticking plaster, bonfire and of course smoke.
Palate - spicey initially, smokey vanilla, caramel, candy, coconut in the background.
Finish - long, smokey, chilli, quite dry.

4th May 2018

I've really enjoyed the Talisker 10, but it currently costs >70$ US at my local shop. Talisker Storm was on sale for <40$ US so I decided to give it a try.

It has the bold richness, a biscuity sweetness, a bit of ocean brine, and of course the strong peat smoke that I associate with the Talisker 10. I don't think this whisky suffers from the lack of an age statement. I enjoy this a lot, and with prices for fine peated whiskies continuing to climb I could see this as an excellent go to option.

As always, peated whiskies can be an assault on the senses for the uninitiated, but if you know what you're in for or have an adventurous palette I think this is a good choice.

29th January 2018

Smokier than Highland and more affordable.

28th January 2018

Love the airy, smokey taste. Great aroma. The only Scotch I buy.

27th January 2018

Great aroma, pretty good finish.

29th December 2017

A very nice dram ( or 3 ) to start Christmas day. Very tasty. Would recommend.

25th December 2017

Delicious, smooth but striking to taste with a hint of pepper and peat.

9th December 2017

Nice traditional island flavor, tried it first because it was on sale. Now I purchase for friends who haven't had Islay malts before.

2nd December 2017

Very fond of this- in fact had to buy 4 bottles when it was on offer in tescos.
Now here is the difference....... for me I treat it like a cognac & warm it up. Hot peppery sweet with great balanced aromas that'l drag you in like a fast tide.

24th October 2017

Very good especially with a drop of water.

17th October 2017

Absolutely the worst scotch I have ever tasted, it taste like it has paint thinners or mineral spirits in it. Very heavy off putting taste.very strong, very hot, I live in North Carolina, the local moonshine puts this to shame. Bad stomach cramps after just one drink.these comments Are for the dark storm whiskey,don't mean to sound negative but this is terrible

9th August 2017

The sweet and creamy fragrance of the dram reminds me of honey and bananas, which is very pleasant and adds another layer of character to this dram. The palate is not as satisfying, as the unaged roughness cannot be masked completely, but still is strong and spicy. I believe a touch of water opens the sweet and creamy flavors within, and even though I am a peat-lover, is still peaty enough to enjoy. I bought it quite expensive at a local store, but I believe t has great value beneath 50 bucks.

5th August 2017

Enjoy the 10 year, however storm seems to be turned up abit and is more complex. Very smoky, very peaty. Lovely

12th July 2017

This is a disappointing drop. I didn't expect a great deal from it, given the price, but I may only serve this to guests I don't like very well. I love the traditional island whiskies; I keep three expressions of Laphroaig, three of Ardbeg, two of Lagavulin and one Bowmore on hand. This is rough and young and a poor introduction to smoky, peaty whisky. For the money, get the Laphroaig 10-year or the Ardbeg 10-year.

24th June 2017

I have no idea what is wrong with other people. This is such a great tasting bottle! I gave it 4 stars because I would like it to be slightly smoother. I must say though that it does deliver on the "storm"! It is Smoky and Delicious and I want more!

20th June 2017

Somewhat lacking. Might be a good introduction to the smokier malts but for the price you could do a lot better

26th May 2017

I love the Distillers Edition and the Port Ruighe so thought I'd give this one a shot. It's very different, peppery and very coastal. More salinity than any whisky I've tasted. I liked it, a nice change from the many sweet expressions there are, though thought the finish was a little short.

25th May 2017

Gross. Awful. Foul.

I enjoy scotch this was by far the worst scotch of all time. No shame in dumping the bottle

8th May 2017

This is an a tasty dream

6th April 2017

This nas single malt had the same experience as the 12 yr bowemore. Add a tad of sweetness and take a bit of the bite of the bowemore and you'll end with the storm. Sweet smoke but too uoung snd definitly too expensive.

18th March 2017

Awesome !!!

17th March 2017

Am a big fan of the 10 yo and even the distillers editions but found this very disappointing, to the point where most of it is still in the bottle and has been relegated to the back of the cupboard. I did give it a fair go and tried it on 3 seperate occasions with the same outcome. I don't care that it's a NAS but this is very harsh with an extremely rough finish. Even worse is that's is the same price as the 10. Disappointed.

11th February 2017

This is an a tasty dram. Less briny than the 10 year old with a slightly thicker mouthfeel. With a smokey and satchely nose, it is buttery and sweet on the palate with plenty of smoldering smoke and wood in a longish finish. Often on special for less than $80 in Australia this whisky is proof that NAS can be just as good if not better than some of the junior age statements. The 18 year old is in another realm of course, but you would expect that.

9th January 2017

This as given to me as a birthday gift, and when I checked out the price tag I was quite surprised to see it was so high, which, to me, is a bottle which just tastes like a regular blend, not something that is meant to have good heritage, but it has no body, there is nothing powerful on the nose and it just seems a little weak to me, disappointing.

24th December 2016

It's depressing to see a venerated distillery like Talisker suddenly flood the market with overpriced NAS releases. They're all that's available where I live. The tasting note by MoM is generally correct, though on tasting you can definitely spot the younger whisky component. I can't give a young whisky without an age statement more than two stars when it costs $90, even if it is Talisker.

16th December 2016

I prefer Islay whisky to normal highland. The whiskies from the islands have also been very appealing. This Talsker definitely is worth trying. It is smooth but peppery, smoky but not ashy, complex as nose but more straight with the palette. Good price for the experience you get. I like it! No need to be snobby about the fact it lacks a year, no need to say "gross" or "disgusting" : that is just commends of so called whisky lovers that hopped on the wagon a few years ago due to the popularity of the spirit. They have never investigated the range of flavors or are just opinionated.

16th November 2016

bought this because it was supposedly marked down from $69 to $29 on sale; got what I paid for. Tastes like a cheap bottle of mixed/blend scotch. None of the Talisker flavor/influence coming through.

16th November 2016

seems to be a wide range of opinions here, as a fan of Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, etc. I found this to be well worth the $40 I paid for it. The only other Talisker I've tasted was a bottle of 18yo about 5 years ago, so I'm not all that familiar with Talisker in general. I don't remember it being anywhere near as smoky as this, so that might explain the big discrepancy in the reviews. If you like Islay smoke, you'll like this, if not, then you probably won't. I also agree that there's a bit of sweetness and saltiness working together with the smoke, which I found enjoyable.

12th November 2016

I like peaty whiskys, such as Laphroaig 10/Quarter Cask, Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16, but for me this is far too medicinal tasting. When people mention some peated whiskys tasting of TCP I now see what they mean, but this is probably closer to Germoline. Not a fan.

9th November 2016

This whisky is a class act. It is certainly as good as either of the more expensive Distillers Edition or Port Ruighe expressions (both good) and has better overall breadth than the much loved 10 year old. It also has a better balanced palate and a more lingering and smokier finish than all of the above Talisker expressions. Like with all things, your response to this whisky will depend on what you have imbibed immediately beforehand (food or drink). Tipple something mild but tasty and then have a go at this. You will be surprised how much difference the pre taste will make to your judgement. I can see why the folk at Talisker have backed this one with confidence but it still suffers a little in the market from the anti NAS snobs and the relatively raw palate of the average new convert to single malt whisky. You will definately come back to this whisky if you are are exploring bigger and smokier whiskies but haven't settled on a standard yet.

27th October 2016

I have had the bottle for one year. Finished half of it, to give it some time. But it's a strange whisky.
I've had: Lagavullin 16 yo, Ardbeg 10 yo, Laphroig PX, Spring bank 10 and 12 Yo even the Talisker 10 yo.
This Talisker Storm is uther shit.

The Nose : Abscent, a light peat smell and a bit of medicanal. But only just.
Taste : Starts of OK, but then heatens up, ending in some white pepper disovled in water. It's like stopping halfway your orgasm cause your girl farted after eating some mexican beans man...Such a dissapointment !

If you want Peat : Get the 10 Yo Talisker. If you want some complexity, and peaty/salty taste , try a Springbank 12 Yo.
If you want peat and smokiness : Ardbeg, Laphroig, Black adder and the king : Lagavulling 16 Yo.

1st October 2016

One of the worst I've ever had. Got a bottle for under 40 and still don't want it. Half had well over half to give it a chance over weeks. Offensive nose and really weird overall flavor. For me, it's just gross. This is in sharp contrast to the Talisker 10 which is sublime for me.

18th September 2016

Talisker in general, for me, has always ticked all the boxes. If I can't decide on savoring a Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Glenfarclas or Glenmorangie, Talisker always fills the bill. Despite the name, it's a bit more tame and complex than the Talisker 10, but I find it a bit more briny, with a note of oyster liquor. Still smoky and salty, like the 10. And for the age statement snobs, never fear. Any young whisky in the Storm is well-covered by the older whiskies. A bit sweeter than the 10 y.o. for sure, the vanilla and honey come through on the palate, with a nice burst of white pepper on the finish. I'm a peated whisky fan, and this does NOT disappoint. I've had to out of town to find this, but my local market now stocks it for $40 US. Definitely worth the price.

14th August 2016

I have always been a huge talisker fan the 10 year old being my favourite.... along with the distillers edition absolutely class whisky.
I have been flirting with the storm for the past 2 years and have to admit I have fell in love with it took a bit of time for me to Figure her out and tame her but my my she is a temptress who I love bare no ice no water.... let her sweep you off your feet and feel the warmth of her.
By far the best NAS on the planet

25th July 2016

The first bottle I bought was for a staggering $90 or so.
My first review was in November. "Peat Love"

The last two bottles were bought at the price displayed here. $43.92 (current)
Do I feel gypped? Somewhat, but at the time it was new and well, supply and demand will do that.

However, this has stayed consistent on smell and taste. Not something I can say for every thing else I like to keep and enjoy.

NAS are here to stay unless the Scotch demands go down sometime soon. With more people wishing to discover whisky, and what Scotch is all about, then Aged wiskys will become rare and higher priced.
It sucks that this is the reality of Scotch. Also sucks that just as I'm discovering the subtle limits of it, the demand is so high that the more limited age statements that I would like to try are quickly pricing out of my range. Mind you, I don't mind paying a fair price for a GOOD whisky

This one, however if it stays at a relative price range, is a dammed fine dram. I would not refuse it yet....lest the smell and taste become off from what it is today.

So far, the consistency of what I love about it, the smoke, the brine, the chili heat, the wafting ocean, will keep me buying one more.

Thank you Talisker, for a good smokey whisky.

20th July 2016

I picked this up today from my local supermarket, as it was reduced to £30. I usually go for the more peaty whiskies ,non chilled (Ardbeg) being my prefered dram... and I must admit, this whisky is a really surprisingly good tipple!!

16th July 2016

Sorry but this is one of the worst I've ever had. I have expensive tastes and really enjoy character and depth but I couldn't give this away.

4th June 2016

There's far too many snobs out there that simply won't buy the likes of this because it's a non-age statement whisky. don't assume that all NAS whiskies are bad because they're not, Talisker Storm is among the best NAS single malts i've had. beautiful strong smokiness and sweetness for balance, just beautiful. Don't hesitate to buy this.

22nd May 2016

Left the Glencairn overnight with a cover on it. Was surprised to find the next morning a slight aroma of rotten eggs.
Wonder if this came from the burning of a sulphur candle in the cask to fumigate the bacteria accumulation, meaning the cask had layen empty for a while.

18th May 2016

Now, I'm really no fan of the No Age Statement whisky trend but good whisky is good whisky. This Talisker is Very good whisky... Period.

Try a bottle and you will be plesently suprised if you like the smokey/peaty stuff. For me, no water required. Really opens up after a few days/weeks of being opened.

Well done Talisker for making such a great NAS whisky.

Rob, Somerset

12th May 2016

How is this possible malt mates? Why would you possibly pay more money on Talisker Storm (a mediocre version of Skye whisky) than on Talisker 10 year old? The price is simply not justified... Talikser 10 is worth talking about whereas this version is... OK as ....long as it's below 30 quid. Wouldn't you agree?

8th May 2016

I've always been a fan of Talisker. I love the peaty, smoky Malts. Laphroaig 10 year old is my Go To - I love the smoky, medicinal, maritime taste. Talisker Storm is all that as well, but I don't believe it's worth $100 a bottle ! I know the peaty, medicinal malts aren't for everybody. For those who can't handle it I recommend The Glenlivet. It's a good 'Girl's' Scotch that won't offend.

4th May 2016

Why take the time to make a whisky that tastes of medicine? I mean it really does, I love my whisky, but this is foul stuff. New age means sharp, acidic, and a horrendous aftertaste. Waste of £40. Utter crap. No more talisker for this gent.

25th April 2016

Comparable to the Talisker 10 but with the peaty notes turned down and the sweetness turned up. You could argue that it lacks some of the nuance and character of the 10 (and you'd be right) but this is still a very respectable dram. If it came out tomorrow under a different distillery's name I suspect the reviews would be rather more positive. I'm no great lover of the NAS trend but on this occasion I have to say that the distillery have got it right. It's certainly more vibrant than the insipid Talisker Skye.

18th April 2016

I'm still laughing at the previous review a whisky aficionado ( or so he thinks ) who refers to his whisky as Scotch. The rest of his collection is probably all Haig club and worst of all... pouring whisky down the drain, have a word with yourself.. This is not bad stuff, I'm really wary of all this new NAS stuff chill- filtered etc but it's fine for supermarket bought and it does have a long peppery hot finish, the overriding sense is sweetness, it's really sweet. If you like smoke you'll probably like it, it's nothing groundbreaking but I has a nice tangy peat and a chilli heat

3rd April 2016

Wanted to like, tried to like it, but just didn't care for it. I am fan of Talisker and was anxious to try this but was very disappointed. I had to laugh when reading another reviewer talk about pouring out his bottle of Storm...I did the same thing and was almost too embarrassed to admit it. I made it through about 80% of the bottle but was not enjoying it and asking myself why I was drinking it when I have so many bottles of other Scotch that I enjoy so much more. Down the drain!

25th March 2016

I prefer the 10yo followed by Skye but this has the better finish than the aforementioned Taliskers, in fact it has he best finish of any whisky I have tasted thus far.

19th March 2016

This was a wonderful whiskey from the Isle of skye. I enjoyed this one so deeply that I brought it along a canoe trip with me. Spent my time at night enjoying 1 or 2 drams of this stuff. Very sweet to the taste with plenty of peat flavors. Everyonce in a while I would get a good taste of campfire smoke. I could also notice that brine behind the initial taste.

17th March 2016

very very nice, bought on a Friday night gone by Monday (shared with Father in law)

24th February 2016

Truly the worst whiskey I have ever tasted. It's akin to a combination of antiseptic and old pub ashtray... If your tastebuds are dead, this may be the one for you, otherwise, I'd recommend just about anything else!

24th February 2016

For those who appreciate a little smoke in their dram then this is a very sweet and well balanced affair. Very identifiable a Talisker in its profile and a little richer and smokier than the 10 year old - though perhaps a little less complex. This is quite a bit better than most similarly priced single malts, particularly when it is on special - which it often seems to be. It is sweet but is not anything special on the nose. However, it has a very rich and deep hit of smoke, honey and brine on the palate and a wonderful lingering smoke and pepper on the finish. A great success. Just as good as the better NAS Laphroaigs and at a much better price.

11th February 2016

Picked up Storm on offer as Talisker 10 yo is a firm favourite of mine but after reading the reviews I thought I may have wasted my money. I was blown away with how good this is, complex but at the same time easy to drink. I found the finish quite remarkable, so long and the chilli heat is a joy.

6th February 2016

Initially very Smokey but soon acquired the taste. At end of the evening I thoroughly enjoyed every dram.

26th January 2016

I love the highlanders. Storm is and tastes like an Islay. It was a tad too smoky and too salty for me. The barrel was unrelenting.

24th January 2016

As a comparison with the 10 year old Talisker this is rough mongrel. I know companies are always looking to get their product noticed but they achieved that for all the wrong reasons.
Why were Tesco selling it at £25 a bottle?
For a real sipping single malt this a horror show. Even many Islay malts have more subtlety than this.
I cannot advise that you purchase!

24th January 2016

WOW
As a talisker 10 year old stalwart I wasn't expecting much but my my it's a wee stoater. sticking plasters followed by the sea spray of a stormy sea bonfire and slight citrus then bang.. the smoke and pepper almost combine to provide a smoky brief chilli heat finish with a long full bodied smoky finish
Quite superb if you like your islay's

17th January 2016

I picked this up expecting the same level of character that Talisker normally produces and was thoroughly unimpressed. Not sure what the age actually is, but feels like a big wet puppy - lots of excitement, but ultimately just a wet mess.

4th January 2016

This is good stuff. Not super smooth but with a hint of water some interesting flavors develop. Very oaky and salty with a really deep ocean flavor mixed with caramelized bananas and finished with a nice peat/oak smoke. Not as oceanic as the 10 year but smoother and more complex. A little pricey but worth a try for sure. The Sugarbear

5th December 2015

...so I'm not buying.

2nd December 2015

A brilliant full bodied great after taste

1st December 2015

Im a fan of the Peat.

This one, even tho it's a NAS, does very well beside the ranks of Laphroaig and Ardbeg and their numerous offerings of the peaty goodness.

It is salty, briny, medicinal and softly sweet.

If you don't like peat, you will not enjoy. For those of us that do, this dram is for you.

Remember, there is no bad Whisky, your just not in tune with the dram. Some other day, you might just discover a diffent light on what you called a bad whisky.

12th November 2015

Liked the sweetness, but just too bitter and a bit tangy, probably from bad casks. Nose was a bit off too. I think I will stick with the 10 yr, especially as it seems Talisker will soon do away with it.

10th November 2015

This is my first Talisker I've tried [tho I do have a Distiller's Edition and a 10 YO waiting in the wings and rather enjoy the Islay peat offerings, just to establish some experience]. First impression [neat] was that it was a bit smokey, definitely some brininess but not too much more. I did get a bit of a pepper sensation but assumed that was coming from the 45.8 ABV. Adding a few drops of water softened the peppery finish a bit and added some "burnt floral" notes to the nose and the palate. I tried it again a couple days later and experienced mostly the same thing although, I did find some subtle leather notes on the nose. Letting it set in the glass about 30 minutes added a more buttery/rich mouth feel. All in all, I would give notch about "meh", especially at the current price point. I will however spend some more time with this one to see if I get any more changes [I DO have the rest of the bottle to work with after all]. I look forward to trying the other Talisker offerings... Cheers!

5th October 2015

Big Talisker fan myself, I was a bit worried about this one. Yeah.. go for it, don't hesitate any longer.Friendly piece of advice, beware no to get confused with Talisker Dark Storm

25th September 2015

Open the bottle, maybe have one or two then leave it two weeks or so. Unsubtle aspects of the dram mellow out quite nicely - when first opened it was a disaster without the salty hit of the 10 to balance out the rather cloying sweetness. If you see this at £40, don't bother - spend the extra £16 and buy the magnificent 57 degrees North, or better still the Ardbeg Corryvreckan if you're in that range. Hell, don't mess around with mediocre experiments and stick to the real deal.

23rd September 2015

I cannot understand the exaggerations I read below. Puke is not word to use in this forum.
My favorite is the regular Lagavulin. I discovered the Storm by luck and found it very good. Should the Lagavulin not be available at Costco I would search for the Storm.

22nd September 2015

In my circle Islands (and Islays) tend to be ones you either love or hate. I know several people who wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole. I however, love this one. I haven't had any of Talisker's other offerings but based on this I am sure I would enjoy them. I especially enjoy the heat this brings to the mouth with the extremely subtle fruit tones (although the fruit is escaping me with the glass I have in front of me right now I do remember it from previous samples).

Don't be afraid to give this one a few tries; especially if you can come back to it after having some others from the the region. It does take a little to get used to and is less approachable for newer folk but it will definitely grow on you if you give it the chance.

2nd September 2015

The horrible medicine taste made me puke.Tried it again and it's still just as bad . Much more harsher than talisker 10 . Even johnny walker red label is better than this garbage.

27th August 2015

I liked it. Enough I think. I'll get some more when I'm done.

6th August 2015

This felt very heavy, with a heavy sweetness that lingers longer than I want. Not much going on with this one at all. I frowned after each sip.

26th July 2015

A friend brought a bottle to a wine tasting...needles to say I didn't taste any of the wine as I was busy taking care of the Storm. Great taste...very mellow! Love it!

13th July 2015

Brought up on Skye, Talisker is my favourite whisky and this does not disappoint. Well worth a try if you like the peaty smoky flavour of the Skye dram. And the round bottomed glass is kinda cool too!

14th June 2015

as someone who has probably sampled 3/4 of the malts out ther over the last 45 years I can honestly say.
there is no such thing as a bad malt only you having a bad day

17th May 2015

Tried it twice just to be sure. No, I was right the first time. A medicinal, salty, unpleasant mess.

16th May 2015

I'm always very suspicious of old whiskies with new names. I am a packaging engineer and heard many stories of products going slightly off colour or taste by mistake and being marketed under a new name. As an example I was given a bottle of Laphroig "Quarter Cask" and being a lover of Laphroig I was very disappointed with Quarter Cask it had a start and a bite but non of the distinctive peat and seaweed of a bog standard Laphroig. So when I was presented with Dark Storm I was initially delighted. However having compared it to my all-time favourite, the 10 year old Talisker, my conclusion is that it's OK but not different enough to justify the higher price

4th May 2015

I find this is a wonderful whisky and it is growing on me even more with every sip!

11th April 2015

but that's about it! Not my cup of tea

11th March 2015

I'll drink almost anything- as long as its Laphroig and Lagavulin - particularly Lagavulin - but this especially surprised me as Im not a Talisker fan. I have too admit however, I was disappointed not to notice the sticking plaster and window putty notes.....but immensely enjoyable nonetheless

18th January 2015

- note I forgot to do the star rating - I give it a solid 4, possibly a 4.5 (or as an old Math instructor a solid B or possibly a B+)

16th January 2015

I do the occasional review of my favorite hobby, single malts, on my blog where I express my views in a straight forward manner - I've never tasted bananas, or corroding zinc, or dried mussels or such ilk in any whisky but I do like certain drams more than others. The Talisker Storm seems a lot smoother to me than the 10 year old which I like a lot, although smoother or smoothness is not necessarily a winner for some smooth whiskys leave me cold if they have no depth of flavour, no nose, no lingering finish, but that is just what I find in 'Storm' a smoothness with variations of flavour and a little bite from the 45.8% Alc/vol. The bright gold colour set the stage for enjoyment (and I can say I did enjoy it) then when I swirled it in my stemless wine glass that I use for whisky the aroma of good deep scotch came through strongly. The various flavours as I sip keep tantalizing my brain but in a mild way. Over all I give it about an 85/100 which is really a good whisky. By way of farther reference my favorites for smokey deep whiskys are Laphroiag - 10year old, and Lagavullan - 16 year old, while some other non-smokey whiskys like MacMillan 12 year old also rate high. And a true Scots best recommendation is yes I will buy another.

16th January 2015

I liked my first two bottles of Storm. My wife, however, gave my the T10 for Christmas. Sorry, mates, I've come in from the Storm. The 10 yr old is much better. That and Mackenzie Rye are my new besties.

30th December 2014

The initial taste of this scotch is reminiscent of a properly aged scotch with large amounts of smoke and peat. The after taste/finish is more like that of a dry erase marker, had it been liquefied.

In an effort to make something of this horrible tasting elixir I mixed it with Coke, and that just brought out the medicinal/chemical taste even more. I have had drinks made from a spill pad at a bar before that were more drinkable than this concoction of virgin piss, baby tears and puppy blood.

There is a first for everything, and this is the first time I have poured out a bottle of scotch. Horrible stuff.

29th December 2014

It's tastes like getting punched in the face by the sea.

28th December 2014

Bad, bad, bad. I will never have this brand again.

27th December 2014

I think storm is not so harsh as the 10yr, very drinkable to be kept for a special occasion.

21st December 2014

the previous review is not for this bottling, its actually for DARK STORM, let the storm pass and head for the 10 year old

17th December 2014

As a BIG fan of Talisker 10 I was expecting more of the same and perhaps even more iodine & smoke.. but what a letdown, not in the same league at all. Quite a boring dram, hard to believe its even Talisker.

15th December 2014

Terrible medicinal taste to this garbage. What a waste of a good bottle and cork

7th December 2014

Imagine a dark stormy night off the rocky coasts of Scotland. The air replete with sea salt. The camp fire burning fiercely on a diet of cut peat. A spirit woman rises out of the fire, wrapped in mist and smoke. She reaches and grabs your bottle of fine, highland scotch from your hands, and pours it generously over her ghostly white belly as you watch the whisky run off her womanhood like the surf off the craggy rocks below. Silently she beckons you to her, bringing your stubbled cheeks between her smooth, silky legs.... Yep - that's pretty much what it tastes like.

5th December 2014

It's like being at an orc hen party in deepest February with a depressed bride weeping into a cold bag of chips. Rough, rowdy, and miserable.

14th November 2014

talisker was my favourite whisky for a long time before branching out.
wanted to try the talisker Storm for old times sake.

lots of smoke , peat and iodine .. very good whisky for the price. , I prefer uiegeadial but variety is the spice of life

2nd November 2014

I enjoyed this talisker.
smokey and slightly peaty

2nd November 2014

Absolutely delicious, full bodied, peaty, malty excellence with a very pleasant kick or after-glow!

30th October 2014

Very very smoky & heavy. I prefer the Talisker 10 year though, because the Storm skimps out on the peat and sea-salt that gives the 10 year such balance.

21st October 2014

Very complicated flavour. Couldn't make my mind up whether I liked it or not to begin with. On a third occasion of opening the bottle decided in it's favour. Probably more of one to have as part of a collection to have every now and again than one you would drink in a session, but not a bad thing for that.

10th October 2014

I drank a lot of Scotch in my 20s and 30s, mainly Johnny Walker. Now in my 50s, sick of all the lousy wine out there, I've returned to scotch. This was my first foray into single malts. I recognized the family resemblance to JW going in, loved the mid palate, and got used to the heat in the finish. Lack of big peat not a concern for me personally. I liked the complexity. Currently quaffing Caol Ila 12 at the moment. I prefer its smoothness, but I will buy another bottle of Storm in the furture.

30th September 2014

Surprisingly good, my new fav

18th September 2014

Tasting notes hit it and this is a super drink.

14th September 2014

my favourite whisky,for me the best whisky on earth

14th August 2014

Thanks the Lady,that attract my attention on it at Heathrow Duty Free,I enjoyed it much!!!
According to my test I will put them close to Bowmore Cask strength,but behind THE Darkest

16th July 2014

You can tell this is a Talisker but it is harsher than other expressions; it says intense on the label and that is correct. Long finish, peaty and spicy; don't think I like it as much as the standard 10 year old (wonder how old this one is?)

14th July 2014

Very pleasant whisky. The secret of this malt is hidden beyond its smoke layers. With some drops of water added I discovered a complex drink. Chocolate, peat, chilli and a bit of lemon mixed in a wonderful peat. Its difficult to find a bottle in Brasil, I bought one two mounths ago in Qatar airport.

14th July 2014

Wonderful X 5, for the category (not being 10, 12, 15 18 years on the box) this single malt is placed in a significant category by itself. I personally feel it’s an outstanding single malt. I have had many single malts and sample many others, but non as smooth, complex and aromatic as this. For those who are not pretending to be single malt experts, this is an outstanding first initiation into the world of single malt scotch whiskey, so ignore all the negatives and drink up, it will be exceptional on your pallet and lean on your wallet. I purchased this a Calvert Woodley in Washington, DO for $39+ tax and it was one of my best purchases, going back for more..

6th July 2014

directly and honestly - a muted smell and especially taste rancid rotten corpses and wounds

3rd July 2014

Not up to the 'Talisker' standard, interesting to try once, but it will not be bough again.

3rd July 2014

Reminds me of the Kirkland signature bottle I bought many years ago at 1/2 the price.

14th June 2014

Pepper. Lots of it. Smoke and salt.
Bought on a whim, I'm glad to have tasted it, and can see how I'll enjoy it on a dark and stormy evening, but I prefer the taste of sea I find in the 10 yo.

26th May 2014

I think iT is à great whisky. Amazingly tasty ...

3rd May 2014

Seriously, what is the point of this release? It's like the 10 but not as good in any respect. All the flavours are there, just muted and well hidden. It's less flavoursome and more expensive than the 10. So why make it??

28th April 2014

Salt, iodine, more salt. Perhaps a Laphroaig fan would like this. Much prefer 10 YO, 18 YO, Distillers. Have not tried Dark Storm. A little afraid to now, but can't be much worse.

11th April 2014

Far too salty, instead get the black storm which is a great whisky compering to this one

30th March 2014

One of the one most great whisky in the world

21st March 2014

I do regular whisky tasting evenings for various international colleagues and Taliskers generally are always popular.
As far as I'm aware, this is one of about 5 currently doing the rounds and, based on my own reaction and those of my friends, in terms of the extent to which we simply 'enjoyed' them, I'd rank them in this order: 57° North, 10 Year Old, Distiller's Edition, Dark Storm, Storm.
In other words, this one and it's 'darker' sibling are better than most other 'ordinary' whiskies, but nothing special in comparison to the two really good Taliskers, the 57°N and the 10YO. So, buy them and not this.

19th March 2014

Too medicinal for me! I dont recommend this to my taste

15th March 2014

I picked up a bottle on an impulse. I'm always looking to try a new scotch. I find the whiskey to be smokey and aromatic with a pleasant yet notable hint of the sea. I found it to be a great whiskey and an overall wonderful purchase. Perhaps not for everyone, but most certainly worth a shot!

14th March 2014

Not a bad whisky, but not worthy of the Talisker name. Contrary to its promotion, it's less "in your face" than the Talisker 10, and the much ballyhooed smokiness is lacking. I far prefer the Islays for only a few dollars more.

17th February 2014

Everything about this whisky is 'above average'. Not excellent, but I feel it is one of those whisky's that I can go back to anytime when I want to drift away to the scottish shores, fishing, lighting a small fire on the shore to cook up a freshly caught salmon.

3rd February 2014

This a great value whisky as it packs so much in. It's a whisky which lets you know it's there - with big salty peppery taste, however remains very smooth and drinkable. Dead canny.

29th January 2014

Still better than a lot of Whisky, but as a Talisker falls short. Indeed it seems to be invented by a marketeer instead of a distiller. The Dark Storm is actually a lot better than then normal Storm or the new Port Ruighe. Just get the 10, 18 or 57 north. WAY better stuff.

26th January 2014

Talisker storm is too quaffable, I enjoy it so much that one dram is never enough, beautiful nose, taste and after taste, went through 3 bottles last year and have another bottle standing by. I too used to enjoy Lagavulin 16yr old as my favourite tipple (but still enjoy it) but has now been topped by a Storm!

12th January 2014

I love Talisker 10 year. There is none finer.
But this 'Storm' label stuff- just terrible.

29th December 2013

I love this! It's quickly becoming my favorite. I find it easy to drink. It's a nice smoke finish and each sip makes me feel like on on the ocean side...

29th December 2013

Very good. It has a nice balance of peat and salt in the finish. I recommend picking up a bottle.

24th December 2013

damn good
lovely on its own
or with a little soda
miles better than most commercial
and like all talisker

no thick head in the morning

13th December 2013

I missed out on giving a star rating - which I've now rectified.

30th November 2013

A stunning whisky - for all the right reasons. Very close to elbowing aside my all-time favourite: Lagavulin 16-y-o. Highly recommended to anybody who understands what a great whisky should really taste like.

30th November 2013

Yes, I like Ardbeg (putting it above the 10yo Talisker) and I really like the Laphroaig (especially the Quarter Cask), but this TStorm is really good. For me, complex, different, still peaty, mmmm good. In my top 1/3 and, likely by the time I get to the bottom of the bottle, close to the top on my list. I do like an age statement, but as someone already said NAS or no NAS, go get.

20th October 2013

Not really my cup of tea, nose is reminiscent of monkey arpit with a hint of juniper and a slight sprinkle of Brut 22.
Palate was interesting enough as it suggested traffic wardens insole mixed with lime and rubber gloves.
Finish was a little to gangbang for me and overall just a bit too Michael Jackson.

9th October 2013

Going thru Duty Free at Heathrow the bottle of Talisker Dark Storm caught my eye. I had not seen it available in the USA before and thought this might be something special for the European market and that I should get it. My first hint that this was not the Talisker I liked, was the lack of an Age designation. Much to my surprise Dark Storm is not proudly recognized on the Talisker web site. I tasted it last night and was extremely disappointed with the thin light taste. plenty of smoke just not depth. My recommendation - don't waste your money on this whiskey.

6th October 2013

I live in Poland. My wife has bought a litre bottle at Aberdeen duty free and I can't wait to taste it when I return from Saudi Arabia - a totally dry country - in October. Will keep you posted...

20th September 2013

They shouldn't have put their name to it. I bought it because I like Talisker - mistake.

9th September 2013

I bought a bottle, thinking this could be interesting. I should have saved my money and gone for the standard bottling. This one should be marketed as Talisker lite

21st August 2013

I tried this at a well known shop.this not as good as the standard bottling.It was dumbed down for the mass market.
I will not not be buying a bottle,to be honest I was gutted.The 10 and the 18 are 2 of the best whiskies on the planet!

9th August 2013

I found this lacking in complexity and quite bitter. Yet another poor whisky which could only sell in the Duty Free arena. Wouldn't have guessed it was Talisker!

6th August 2013

Try without water as water won't really improve the flavour.

Intense, smoky and maybe we will try it again (maybe one bottle is enough!)

19th July 2013

Being an old Talisker and Ardbeg aficionado I couldn't miss this new storm,and IMO the marketing is right: this whisky feels like their answer to the success Ardbeg is enjoying in the last years.
Yes it's salty (very), yes it's smokey (a lot more than the 10 years), yes it's a peated as Ardbeg 10 years (Talisker 10 years is slightly peated, but not so overhelming), probably it's also made from younger Talisker than 10 years, it's VERY aggressive, your palate and tongue can testify it, definitely not a whisky for everyone but if you like Islay single malts and you want something more than Ardbeg 10 years this is for you.

17th July 2013

The Talisker storm feels like the product of a marketer rather than a distiller. The nose/taste is confused.
Their 10 years is far better.

28th June 2013

This was a weird surprise. It's actually quite good and enjoyable when sitting on the deck on my boat after a long day. A perfect whiskey to enjoy.

20th June 2013

Not as much peat as a traditional Talisker but a lovely mouthfilling experience with a long finish, rich and dark with spicy top notes. One for the favourites list I think

22nd May 2013

An interesting expression from Talisker. The peat is less obvious, and the dram is characterised by a sweet pepperiness. There seems to be a sherry influence, adding additional complexity. A lovely dram, obviously Talisker, but accessible to those who are less fond of peat. The name perhaps implies a different tone, but you cannot fault the dram!

14th May 2013

I felt there was a beery smell there. The Talisker peat is there although not very strong. Total impression: uninteresting. Not bad but not inspiring either. Having also tried 10yo, DE, 57 and 18 I'd say the Storm is my least favourite of the current Talisker lineup so far.

11th May 2013

I ordered a sample of this dram, and when I tasted it, it was nothing like Talisker. The nose is the most interesting about it. At first it was like newly sharpened pencil, but this luckily faded off quickly and was replaced by tropical fruits and salt. The taste completely lacks the peppery Talisker Trademark, but instead it has huge amounts of salt, it's quite metal-like, dry and edgy to taste. Water doesn't change that impression. No malt and almost no oak. My husband said; if I didn't knew what it was, I would have guessed something from Old Pulteney. I agree. I is marketed as something in between the 10 year old and the 57 degrees north, but it is not. Buy one of them instead - the are much better. Now I know I'm not going for more Storm.

10th May 2013

This is a seriously tasty whisky. Thrilling stuff!

21st March 2013

Nas or no NAS. this is a cracker. go get.

5th March 2013