Talisker 10 or 18?

[Secesh]

I'm about to finish off a bottle of Balvenie 12 so was going to replace it with a Talisker. I've seem about as many recommendations for the 10 as the 18. The local store has the 10 on sale for $45 but doesn't carry the 18.

Thanks
tom

[les taylor]

I'm about to finish off a bottle of Balvenie 12 so was going to replace it with a Talisker. I've seem about as many recommendations for the 10 as the 18. The local store has the 10 on sale for $45 but doesn't carry the 18.

Thanks
tom

Tom the 18 is a thing of bueaty. But your store does't have it. Take the 10 you won't be dissappointed.

[Deactivated Member]

The 10 is a malt every whisky drinker should check out, not merely one of the Classic Malts but a true classic, unmistakably distinctive. Doesn't guarantee you'll like it, of course! The 18 is indeed a thing of beauty, but I feel generally that it's worth understanding the flagship bottling before getting at the older expressions, and that's definitely true here.

[LeoDLion]

Remember that the Talisker 18 is voted the most outstanding malt whisky of 2007! I just finished a bottle of Talisker 10 and I am impressed. I also have the 18 waiting to be opened.

[Drrich1965]

The 10 is a malt every whisky drinker should check out, not merely one of the Classic Malts but a true classic, unmistakably distinctive. Doesn't guarantee you'll like it, of course! The 18 is indeed a thing of beauty, but I feel generally that it's worth understanding the flagship bottling before getting at the older expressions, and that's definitely true here.

I agree with all of this statement, 100%. That being said, I am also one of the rare birds who liked the 175 Anniversary bottelings a great deal, along with the Distillers edition. Here are my most recent Talisker notes.

89 Sm Talisker NAS '175th Anniversary' (45.8%, OB, 2005) August 18th, 2007. Well, I have a bottle of this and was saving it for that special day. Fortunately, one of my new trading partners had this open, so I get to sample it now. Very cool. Nose: A good deal going on. Some pepper and peat, and some gentle spices that hint of some vatting including sherry casks, grape as well. A little bit of feints, but good in context. Mouth: Wow, I really like this a lot. Far more interesting, to me, then the most recent Talisker I had. Not as intense, but balanced between some sweetness and the power of the peat. Less sweet then the distillers edition. I know its vogue to hit this one for not being as intense, for being a toned town Talisker, but I think it is my favorite to date (but, I have a sample of the 18yo to try). The finish, incidentally, is warming, satisfying and long.

88 Sm Talisker Double Matured 1992 (45.8%, OB, Bottled 2005) Well, I need to do some more formal tasting notes here, but for now I can say I enjoy this malt, but perhaps not as much as the standard ten. I want to like the double distilled line more than I do, but in truth, I think they tend to subtract by addition, especially if you already love the original. The second maturation, in more intense and seemingly first fill sherry casks of different types, dulls the peat and pepper of Talisker more than it creates complexity. That said, it is still a darn nice malt, I believe. Incidentally, this is one that I have enjoyed more and more. The sweetness is actually the perfect foil of the pepper and peat. This is one of those drams that grows on you over time, and becomes more enjoyable. Glad to have a spare bottle for a rainy day. I actually disagree with my first impression, it is a fairly complex and lovely malt. October 3, 2006, and I am at the last few sips of the bottle. As with the Lagavulin DE, this is a malt I have grown increasingly fond of over time. One of the nicest things about this malt is that underneath the sherry, peat and pepper, there is delectable layer of malt, especially on the nose.

87 Sm Talisker 18yo (45.8%, OB, circa 2006) August 19th. The winner of the best whisky in the world award by one of the magazines. Lets see. Mouth: Malty and sherry sweetness on the nose. Takes a bit of time to start reaching full speed. Peaty at the core, this is nice. Mouth: Like a slow wave, peat, some pepper, some sweetness later. Finish. Medium, peppery. This is a really good malt, but I have to admit to liking the "175" a bit more.

[Deactivated Member]

Anyway, you have the 10 on sale for $45, and the 18 unavailable. So what's the question?

[Secesh]

Anyway, you have the 10 on sale for $45, and the 18 unavailable. So what's the question?

Just curious since the 18 is probably available in or around Boston but I haven't checked any prices yet.

[les taylor]

Anyway, you have the 10 on sale for $45, and the 18 unavailable. So what's the question?

Just curious since the 18 is probably available in or around Boston but I haven't checked any prices yet.

If I was you I'd buy both of them. Open the 10 first then try the 18. Also do yourself a favour go to the LFW website and read Richard Joynson's comments on the two bottles. You will end with them both I promise.

[Deactivated Member]

The 18 will probably run you in the mid- to high-$60's, which come to think of it is a pretty good deal. Les is right, buy both. IWBRNT.

[Lugarteniente]

The 18 by far. Is one of my prefered malts. The 10 is good but very agressive

[vitara7]

18yo

[shoganai]

Have not tried the 18 yet (there is a bottle sitting on my shelf waiting to be opened) but the 10 is a great and very unique whisky. There are flavors in the 10 that I have not found in any other whisky.

[Mr Fjeld]

I was underwhelmed by the 10. The 18 on the other hand is a very good whisky! Try the 10 in a bar or - but buy the 18!

[Oliver]

I like Rich's notes.
I've had the 10, it is a classic, to be sure. But -- and I know this is almost a cliche -- it seems to have lost some of its fire over the years.
I look forward to try the 18 and the 175 -- when I get paid!

I got a bottle of DE on the way....

[shoganai]

Thinking about it a little more, I actually didn't like the 10 when I first tried it. Similar to my experience with Laphroaig it was just so different than anything I had tried before I didn't know how to appreciate it.

When I tried it again a year later, I loved it.

What is the general take on 175? There is a bottle available near where I am staying this weekend for about $100. Trying to talk myself out of buying it. I'm running out of shelf space...

[Frodo]

Interesting. I loved the 10yr Talisker when I last had it (several yrs ago). When I had the 18yr I was dissapointed. I think the 18yr is a much more balanced whisky with the 10yr letting the distillery character show through more effectively. I'd start with the 10yr and if you want a more refined version, go for the 18yr.

[Drrich1965]

You could always pick up one of the sets of 50ml samples that I have seen around. I think they have a 10, a DE, and an 18.

[Deactivated Member]

The 18 by far. Is one of my prefered malts. The 10 is good but very agressive

Then maybe we should call you Lugareighteeniente.

[Deactivated Member]

I recently tried the 18y and yes, it was good. But DO NOT be tempted to add more than 2 drops of water as it very quickly faded and became far too wishy-washy.
MT

[Jan]

I would go for the 18yo, which is a very good dram. I have never been a great fan of the 10yo - not that I don't like it - have just never understood it's rep here and elsewhere.

[Deactivated Member]

It will only interest those in the UK, but Waitrose currently have Talisker 18yo on offer at £35. Not a dram for me, but struck me as a decent price point.

[Sherried Malt]

Try the 10 in a bar or - but buy the 18!

That pretty much sums it up for me. I tried both at a bar and wound up clearly preferring the 18. Much more cost-effective way of trying things too.

The man who invented bars should be given a medal!

[Ardbeg311]

It probably will be easier to sample the 10yo than the 18. If the 10yo is not your cup of tea, don't give up on the 18yo or the DE. Keep your eye out for the various tastings put on by some MA liquor stores. In Medford last year, at Atlas Liquors, I was able to sample for free most of the Talisker range (10, DE, 18, 175th, alas no 20, 25 or 30). In fact, Atlas has sponsered in the past a grand tasting of 100+? whiskies at one of the hotels in Boston towards the end of October. This year's tickets are probably on sale now through the store's website http://www.atlasliquors.com (or 1-781-395-4400). A couple of years ago $85.00 got you a seafood dinner and all the samples you wanted (including HP 18 + 25, Glenfiddich 30, Macallan 18?, and the standard ranges of many brands).

[BruceCrichton]

I'm about to finish off a bottle of Balvenie 12 so was going to replace it with a Talisker. I've seem about as many recommendations for the 10 as the 18. The local store has the 10 on sale for $45 but doesn't carry the 18.

Thanks
tom

Tom the 18 is a thing of bueaty. But your store does't have it. Take the 10 you won't be dissappointed.

Talisker 10 is brilliant. A huge start with pepper, smoke and seaweed and a very sweet finish.

[Lugarteniente]

The 18 by far, no doubt.

[Ganga]

Why not just get the 200 ml sampler set? 10, 18 and the DE.

[LeoDLion]

The price at Spec here must be the lowest price at $60 a bottle. I just bought one the other day saving another bottle on the shelf.

T18 is low in alcohol content at 45.8% compared to other bottles. Even though I am partial to water/ice, this one needs to be neat. There is a bit sweetness and mellowness but the peppery tingling sensation that lingers separates it from other malts. The T10 is more rugged and I prefer the T18.

[BruceCrichton]

The T10 is more rugged and I prefer the T18.

The T10 isn't rugged these days.

[LeoDLion]

The T10 is more rugged and I prefer the T18.

The T10 isn't rugged these days.

I mean just a tad harsh when I say rugged. What do you mean its not rugged nowadays? It got better or did your palate got accustomed?

[BruceCrichton]

It's very sweet and the blast of pepper and smoke is all gone.

Good dram but not classic Talisker.