Talisker 2003 Distillers Edition

ABV:   45.8 %

Island – Isle of Skye

Price:  £79.95

Owned by Diageo

Source: Cnocnan Speireag Burn

Production:    2,600,000 litres pa

Founded 1830

  • Remoteness affected early years – after 30 years banks re-owned it
  • 1880 new owners improved – built a distillery pier – until then, casks had to be floated out to waiting ships!
  • Triple distilled until 1928
  • No longer carries out its own maltings – all malted barley is shipped from Diageo’s Glen Ord Maltings
  • 1960 burnt down – slept for two years
  • 1962 reopened and expended products

One of Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts’ with Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Oban & Lagavulin

Produces so many versions – 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 175th anniversary

 

Whisky

Won Whisky Exchange ‘Best Whisky’ 2016

Double matured in ex-Bourbon and then ex-Oloroso casks over 11 years

Colour:

Nose:

Sharp and well focused; no lingering, rambling smoke here. A sultana sweetness. One of the most tantalising sherry noses - certainly the cleanest

Palate:

Crisp peat then softens to great richness in the mouth. Sweet, roasty malt with heathery dryness. Sherry notes keep back some pepper. In its place is luscious, slightly oily sweetness with juicy fruit and vanilla.

Finish:

Some very deep cocoa notes, vanilla and lingering quite earthy peat. An enormously chewable single malt, with sweetness having the edge on dryness.

With water:

Delicious diluted toffees; pepper; citrus

Whisky Exchange Notes:

Nose:

Gorgeous combination of sea spray and brine, oyster shells and pink peppercorns, along with chewy malt, orange peel and plenty of fruit to tame the pepper and smoke.

Palate:

Seville orange marmalade, then freshly ground black pepper, along with woodsmoke, clove and coriander seed. The aromatic smokiness builds, kept in check with the sweet, juicy notes of orange, grapefruit and lemon. Good fruity undercurrent to the savoury, peppery kick.

Finish: Like the dying embers of a fire, with a sprinkling of aromatic citrus.