It’s that time of year again and the Diageo Special Release whiskies are on sale again, this year we have 8 malts coming from 7 distilleries (and two expressions come from the Lagavulin distillery). Fortunately, I was able to receive a tasting set as a preview (thanks Diageo & The Story guys – this year’s package is stunning, you must agree). You may like or dislike the bottle art this year which is kind of fantasy legend style, but what’s important is the liquid, right?
I will start with reviewing the more approachable group of whiskies (read affordable), and make my way to the older and more expensive as most people will surely have to decide which to get from the former group. Lagavulin 12 is a staple, so I will start with the youngest of them all – Talisker 8 yo.
This whisky comes from a refill cask which has been selected to contain the peatiest Talisker at that age group, and not from ex-peated casks (it is quite unclear from the official statement).
Talisker 8 yo , 59.70% , £89
Nose: A nice stride on the beach with wood fires nearby, or as we often call those: “Coastal” – not something you don’t come to expect from a Talisker, right? It’s got a briny touch to it, with earthy peat and soot, as well as remnants of ash, and a sprinkle of black pepper – Talisker DNA all over. Quite young and ‘bare’ no sherry and not a lot of wood, but enough to balance the peat/soot/ earth with vanilla biscuits, and hints of icing sugar along with minerality and damp oak. Further nosing reveals a fruity touch as well, that hides behind the earthy peat and Seabreeze.
Palate: Quite an entry! I am getting a lot of sweet cotton candy, then immediately it becomes smoky and spicy with vegetal notes, licorice, and aniseed, salty chocolate, and more earth, soot with a leafy/green touch, there’s also some saltiness and maritime / minerality but on the backdrop.
Finish: coastal, with Seabreeze, distant smoke, and earthy peat goes on a fairly long time.
Conclusion:
A nice young-ish, peaty, and brute Talisker, even if not ultra complex, but at 8 years old, this delivers what it promises to be, the 2nd peatiest of the bunch, and certainly a nice example of feisty Talisker pepper earth and peat alongside maritime notes.
Score: 86/100
Available at Malts.com and other online shops, £89