Mostly "younger" old ones in this tasting, and a really "old" old one, and a very recent 18yo standard OB 2010 version. I remember some years back when the 18yo were darker and more sherried in style, superb whisky, but it seems to have dropped a bit in recent years, a bit like the 12yo Highland Park OB. So it's going to be fun to try it against these older bottlings from the 70's, 80's and 90's.
Talisker NAS 80's 40% Gordon & Macphail flat miniature Black/Red label w. eagle
I think G&M bottled some of these bottles as 8yo's at both 40% and 57%. But as there is no age statement to be found on this bottle I'll assume it could be anything. Smells sweet and peaty, oloroso peat? It has even the slightest hint of roasted almonds and orange marmalade. Seems like a rich and heavy Islander. At this strength, impressive. The taste is minty and leathery, again these orange jammy, thick and sweet notes. The mint is sort of a bummer as it shows it's a young and maybe a bit too diluted whisky for my taste. And the peat that was there on the nose is lacking on the palate. But there's some honey and roasted chilies in the finish. Maybe some water will help it a bit even if its a damn good whisky already. The water makes the peat stand out a bit more, and if that's your cue do so, but for me, it was much nicer when the sherry notes were dominating this tasting.
An older bottling that probably had potential to be so much more: 6.5
Talisker 8yo 45.8% OB John Walker & Sons 70's
One with the Johnnie Walker pedestrian on the label, dating back to the 70's according to online reliable information. The label states its "The Golden Spirit of the Isle of Skye". Seems to be somewhat color adjusted for an 8yo diluted whisky. A victim of its time? It smells much more coastal and peaty than the G&M. Smoked, oysters, salty, dried shrimps, seaweed, leather, chalk dust, slightly rubbery but in a good way. The taste is thick, peaty and peppery alongside some sea salt, red onions, rubbery (but in a good way, quite fascinating...), bitter, herbal, this one has it all and it's quite the peat monster as well. I must say I have tried many Islayers at cask strength around 60%abv. that was never near having the bollocks of this one.
Old style peated whisky, a foundation for the reputation Talisker has today: 9
Talisker 18yo 45.8% OB 2010
The one that really got me interested in this distillery, I had a small sip of this one back in 2008 when I was on vacation in Edinburgh. I remember that one being a quite dark whisky with hints of sweet sherry and firm smokiness. How will this much lighter colored version compare? Hints of some light sherry, bourbon vanilla, gentle (maybe too gentle) peatiness and raspeberries, fish stock, honey, cinnamon, a bit thin it seems. The taste is extremely light, peppermint candy and vanilla. The light hints of sherry wood are now all gone. This is a dessert whisky after a toffee pudding or whatever's in you freezer, but it's far from the old Talisker 18 that I remember hit me with peat and power a some years back.
Nice, good, well rounded, silky, smooth, but you know what I really mean: 6.5
Talisker 38yo 1955-1993 53.6% Gordon & Macphail Cask cask#1310,1311,1257
A vatting of 3 different sherry casks, and the oldest Talisker I've ever tasted by far. I think this is a nice way to round off an otherwise good year. Oh, there is one more after this, but I think that of sentimental reasons, this might be the highlight of this tasting. But what is it gonna be like? I always ask myself why IB's does vattings of such old casks? Are there any flaws? Dark brown color. Smells initially like a sherry bomb like no other, but this one needs time. Smells of battery acid and gasoline, phenolic, burnt rubber, I'm almost tempted to pour water in this one even before tasting it bare, but considering the content I'm not going to. It's a big one, but I'm afraid the huge sherry influence kills the peatiness in this one, at least on the nose. I have to taste it bare.. The taste is initially all on phenols and peaty notes, a crazy mix, and so dry that it's almost impossible to enjoy without water nearby. I think it needs a small teaspoon of water. With 2 1/2 teaspoons of water added, to be precise, it gets so much sweeter, strawberries, coriander, sweet licorice, blueberry jam, honey, syrup, melon, amazing now. The only problem s that it lacks peat. Didn't they use peat in the distillation at Talisker back in the 50's? But that huge Talisker peppery notes in the finish are amazing.
Without water it's not my style, but add some, and it's easily a winner: 9
Talisker 14yo 1979-1993 64.3% Cadenhead's
The only reason I'll have this one after the great 1955 is that it has a way higher alcohol content. But I might regret that looking back on the huge, rich sweetness from the 1955 that's still lurking on my palate. But anyway, this should definitively be a blast from the past. light golden color with lots of cask sediments, wasn't this one filtered? I don't mind. Smells all peaty and spirity, considering the alcohol level its no wonder. Once again I have to try i undiluted, but I guess it could ruin my tastebuds. The taste is a fantastic mix of honey, peat, lemon and black peppers. Who'd knew?!! I'll admit it, I'm now glad I saved this one for last. And I won't add water to this, not yet at least. The finish is all on toasted peat and honey. It's sort of one-dimensional, the palate is the same as the finish, but why search for complexity when the simplicity is that good.
Another one that'll never come back, I'm afraid: 9
Next tasting: Bruichladdich Distillery
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