Talisker 10 is a cornerstone of my whisky bar, and I know only a few whisky drinkers who do not consider it to be one of the better OB that offers amazing bang for the buck and solid quality through the years.Talisker’s Peppery “signature” is well known, and while the 10 and 18 year olds are easy to get hold of (and have reasonable pricing) the 25 is released only in small quantities and sells quite fast. This 25 year old ,released in 2007 at 58.1%. I’ve heard some rumors that the next releases will not be at Cask strength, and if this is true, it is sad. I tasted this one at a good friend’s house for the first time,after smoking a cigar, and my palate was way way off balance.I’ve tried it later, with a more calibrated palate, and Wow, was not expecting that!
Talisker 25yo ,58.1%, 2007 release, 6894 btl. (Originally £122) now out of stock
Nose: Quite rich with spices and that peppery signature Taliskers are so well known for. No doubt. this is a Talisker… A certain fruitiness is hiding behinds a peat and spice curtain, and the peat is earthy and well pronounced here. Undertones of sweet honey, with ample amounts of oak as the age would suggest, some sherry influence, and brine. Exquisite, complex and Powerful!
Palate: Wow. this is strong stuff. Undiluted the initial attack is massive. with pepper almighty,oaky goodness in hefty amounts, Peat with a capital P. the earthy kind of from the nose, but here much more pronounced.When the peat and pepper subside, maltiness and some nuts emerge, and don’t you forget that lovely brine that envelopes everything. Lovely.just Lovely. Adding water reduced the initial punch, but makes the pepper and malty backbone stand out.
Finish: peaty, peppery spicy.Long.
This is a massive dram, the punch and amount of pepper it packs is just unbelievable for a 25 year old dram. It’s complex, and lives to its expectations. It’s not for the faint of heart who are looking for a middle aged whisky,it’s kicking, it’s spicy and it’s so alive. Wow. just Wow. Did not expect this from a 25 year old whisky. No sir! A really really good dram. If you can get your hands on a bottle somehow, do not think twice. buy it.drink it. enjoy it. don’t “Collect” it.