Talisker 1986, The Distiller's Edition

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 5 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson 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.