HELP Fiskavaig query

[fearn]

I'm looking for some advice.

My husband likes his whisky, inparticular Talisker (so much so its the name of our dog!). He has a couple of collectables including a Port Ellen. I wanted to get him a collectable Talisker for his Christmas present and during a vist to The Whisky Shop I was advised to buy a bottle of Fiskavaig (for £95), which I was told was rare version of Talisker (only 265 bottles available).

However, after my purchase I did an internet search for this whisky and the only information I could find was on the Whisky Shop site, none of the specialist whisky sites mention it. The Whisky shop site states, '1 of 265 bottles from a single cask, distilled in 1977 on the Isle of Skye. Uncoloured, un-chill filtered and bottled at a cask strength of 51.3% alcohol volume'. I am now unsure if I have actually bought a Talisker and if it is, whether it was a good buy for a Talisker fan or if I would have been better buying something like a 20 year old or 25year old cask strength Talisker (I would be looking to spend no more than £100).

Has anyone heard of this whisky or know anything about it. Any advice would be greatly appricated.

Thanks.

[Deactivated Member]

Hi Fearn - welcome to the forum.

It's very difficult to get a hold of an independent bottling of any of Diageo's "Classic Malt" series as it might detract from their marketing stategy.

For ease of mind, there is currently, (and has been for some considerable time) only one productive distillery on Skye. It produces spirit for blending, as most do, and reserves some for bottling as a single malt.
Whisky Shop owners have no doubt bought a cask at some time from Talisker and, as they can't market it as such, have renamed it.
I would be fairly content that Fiskavaig was distilled at Talisker and I'll probably be buying a bottle myself.

I'm sure there was something about this in another thread but can't find it just now. No doubt the learned scribes will track it down.

[Aidan]

I was in the Whisky Shop last night and they were curious to know what Jim Murray would make of their Fiskavaig. Well, I got home to have a look and found it under Unspecified Malts. Mr Murray wondered what on Earth it was, and declared that it was almost certainly from Islay. Oh dear... If he had looked at a map, he would have found a small village called Fiskavaig on the Isle of Skye, about two miles due north of a place called Talisker.

[The Dazzler]

Fearn

The Fiskavaig is very much a Talisker and was recently voted runner up in the Scottish Field Magazine Merchants Challenge for the best whisky of the year, your hubby will be very pleased.

As Crieftan stated, Talisker don`t allow independant bottlers to use the name Talisker on labels and therefore Taliskers bottled by such bottlers have to be re-named.

Fiskavaig is a bay about five miles from the the Talisker site at Carbost and was the site originally selected for the distillery to be built upon back in the early 1800's.

Slainte

[Deactivated Member]

I recall looking longingly at one of these bottles in the Oban Whisky Shop. As I recall, the label says something like "from a distillery near FISKAVAIG on the Isle of Skye". As others have pointed out, there's only the one. The Whisky Shop is the only bottler to have used this name, which is why a search turned up nothing else.

Rest easy, fearn, you have done well.

[Mike Ralston]

I remember emailing the Inverness Whisky Shop about this in September. This is the bumf they sent in return...

It seems to be Talisker, and a nice Xmas present!

regards, Mike
***************************************
GLENKEIR TREASURES CASK STRENGTH SELECTION

FISKAVAIG AGED 27 YEARS
DISTILLED ON THE ISLE OF SKYE



The Glenkeir Treasures Cask Strength Selection is a series of limited edition bottlings from rare and interesting single casks. This range of fine single malt whiskies will remain exclusive to The Whisky Shop. Our quest to discover the very best 'hidden treasures' from around the land will unearth a succession of gems for our discerning customers. Such delights will appeal to whisky enthusiasts, connoisseurs and collectors alike.

The series is launched with a single malt whisky distilled near Fiskavaig on the Isle of Skye. The whisky was distilled in October 1977 and has spent an extravagant 27 years in cask by the wind swept shore of Loch Harport. The finished article was bottled for The Whisky Shop in April 2005 and only 265 bottles are available. This whisky is un-chillfiltered to retain maximum flavour and bottled at a cask strength of 51.3%volume.

Edinburgh branch manager, Darren Leitch has provided the tasting notes:

Nose: Big, bold and meaty. The coastal elements sweep in and, given time, some sweeter notes appear.



Taste: Although rich, full bodied and clean, a gentle spice against a floral sweetness awakens the taste buds. A pinch of salt and an unobtrusive oaked wood lingers in the background. Hints of smoke and peat are evident on the finish, met by a peppery spice where the true distillery character of this malt emerges.

[GreyArea]

I recall looking longingly at one of these bottles in the Oban Whisky Shop.

Sorry for going off-topic here, but is that the shop that's also a Julian Graves? Quite near the train station, if memory serves? If so, that's where I got my Laddie XVII and my Ledaig Sherry Finish. We were on holiday, staying in the Loch Tay area (close to Lawers).

<SARCASM STRENGTH=WITHERING>I really must find a way of thanking them for the Ledaig.</SARCASM>

Jim

[Deactivated Member]

Not sure about that, GA. It's at the southern end of downtown, not far from the ferry terminal. Can't imagine there's more than one.

Your command of html is obviously too sophisticated for this forum.

[GreyArea]

Not sure about that, GA. It's at the southern end of downtown, not far from the ferry terminal. Can't imagine there's more than one.

Sounds about right. The ferry port and train station were very close.

Your command of html is obviously too sophisticated for this forum.

Heh

Jim

[Deactivated Member]

Back on thread - I tried the Fiskavaig last night. It was quite amazing. A rich sherry nose and early taste, followed by a huge pepperiness and a deep and lasting peat finish. The pepperiness is exactly where the Talisker 10yo [?] used to be about 15 years ago - and when you think about it, it must be the same stuff 15 years on. It was the best Talisker I have ever had and I think JM really underrates it in the Whisky Bible - admittedly, I have never had the 20yo, and perhaps that it even better...

[Deactivated Member]

Thanks, Nick, for making me feel really bad about not buying it!

[Deactivated Member]

V sorry. If you really want it, I could investigate whether it could be sent, but it is not a cheap bottle even without the shipping (and duty?).

[corbuso]

As mentioned by many member, the Fiskavaig is Talisker, but the whisky shop is not allowed to use the brand name. Same is true for almost all Diageo whiskies.
I did sampled the Fiskavaig about 3 weeks and it is really impressive for its age. It is very fresh, peppery and salty with the same punch as a very young Talisker with the complexity associated to its age, thus does not share the roundness and sweetness of the regular 20 YO

It is excellent and can only recommend it.

[The Dazzler]

Fearn,

you must let us know your husbands reaction once he has recieved his bottle!!

Slainte