Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 5 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.
Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes.
Nose
Toffee, bitter chocolate and toasted nuts, with late salt and pepper. Palate
Toffeeish, then toasty. The distracting richness of these flavours introduces a shock of contrast when the seaweed and pepper suddenly burst through. Finish
Powerful salt and pepper. Comment
Not for Talisker purists, but a highly distinctive interplay of whisky and sherry.
Jim Murray
Nose
A much sweeter aroma than the standard 10 Years Old, with the peat playing a much more liberated role with less spiciness. Soft sherry with a suet/sultana pudding heaviness to the malt. Palate
Big, rumbling peat, first crisp and hard, then much, much softer. Again the mouthwatering grape keeps the spiciness to a minimum. Finish
Peat and cocoa combine and the sweet/dry ratio remains in perfect balance throughout. Really big malt, this time free of the peat with the vanilla topping it all off. Comment
Wonderful whisky: a rare case where sherry cask doesn't spoil but merely offers a variation on a theme. No peat-lover should miss this one. But don't expect the usual explosiveness.
Interested in whisky tasting, why not nose through our Nosing and Tasting booklet online. It is a great guide to get you started with nosing and tasting your whiskies.
Talk with other whisky lovers about the Talisker 1986, The Distiller's Edition in the whisky forums.