| Name: | Talisker 10 |
| Spirit Type: | Single Malt |
| Age: | 10 years |
| Region: | Islands (Skye) |
| Year Distilled: | N/A (2002?) |
| Year Bottled: | N/A (2012?) |
| Cask Maturation: | Probably all Bourbon |
| Alcohol %: | 45.8% |
| Color: | Amber + 1 |
| Chillfiltered and Colored | |
| Date Purchased: | 2012.03 |
| Price: | $60 |
Information
Talisker is the only whisky from the Isle of Skye. It’s a good one to try if you want to dip your toes into peated whisky. You’ll get some smoke but it still has a very familiar toffee/vanilla flavor common to bourbon-matured whiskies. Is this the only Core/Base Diageo offering bottled at 46%? I like that. I could do without the coloring and chill-filtering, though.
Nose
Sweet pears, moderate smokiness, and a nice briny saltiness. Faint vanilla and white sugar. With water (I recommend it), a good bit sweeter and less biting. Somewhat tricky to nose as the smells are well mixed together and can be hard to pick apart.
Palate
Vanilla and a medium sweetness. Honey, paper, and a little bit of wax. Slightly bitter, with a lightly syrupy mouthfeel.
Finish
Average. Again, slightly bitter.
Conclusion
Talisker is a great starter malt for the smoke-interested. If you end up buying it, save some for later. This was one of the first bottles of whisky I bought, and I found that over time I was able to get more and more out of this whisky. It is definitely worth your time.
Prices seem to be increasing on this lately, so try to find yourself a nice deal if you want it. If you can’t get what you want, Caol Ila 12 is another great alternative.
Overall Rating: 87/100
Compare To:
- Caol Ila 12
- Bowmore 12
Talisker