Time to review this year’s Special releases from Diageo. This year they have continued with the colorful fantasy theme on the labels and bottles – seems people like these colorful and bold labels. Labels aside – what’s more important is the liquid inside, right?
Diageo has labeled the bottles from the SR 2022 and grouped them into 2 groups: Dark and Vivid. The dark ones are of course the Lagavulin, Talisker, Mortlach, Clynelish, and Oban while the rest are labeled as “Vivid”.
I’ve decided to start with the peaty and smokier ones, starting with the young 11 yo Talisker, then will have a go at the 12-year-old Lagavulin. The Talisker was aged in ex-bourbon casks, as well as wine casks.
Talisker 11 yo Special Releases 2022, 55.1%, £110
Nose: Ah, quite maritime as one would expect from a Talisker (made by the sea, right? 😉 ), with sea spray, and a beach BBQ bonfire up front, there’s a nice sweet smoky feeling to it, even some candy floss along the smoky embers. As the smoke subsides, I am getting apple Strudle and Tarte Tatin with baked apples and pears. A touch of freshly ground black peppercorns and more salty spray linger.
Palate: Starting with more of the sweet baked apples from the Apple Strudle we’ve seen on the nose, then thrown into heaps of wood smoke, then getting briny and salty with the addition of baking spices, hints of tar and dirty insides of fishing boats, macerated dried fruit and bitter cocoa/wood char, licorice and espresso, tiny salty touches along the way.
Finish: The wood char and smoke go on for quite a long time, with BBQ’ed apples, sweet and salty toffee, and more wood, ending on a double espresso.
Conclusion: A rather complex and lovely young Talisker. Everything you come to expect of such a dram is included – with a good balance of fruit, spice, maritime and smoky influences. Dirty in the right amount, and well made. Not cheap at 110 quid, but solid stuff!