Talisker 8 Years Old

A distillery bottling of Talisker matured to 8 year old and bottled at 59.7%. Set at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, Talisker has distilled since 1830. Its 10 year old was chosen as the Island malt of Diageo's Classic Malts series.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a vanilla beneath the smoke. Younger here, it keeps a fierce peat and a clear chilli kick. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. An old visitors book records guests calling since the turn of the last century. Medium peated malt from Glen Ord gives the smoke, the water from the Hawk Hill springs. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas. The distillery faces the water across to the hills of Skye. Talisker is made by the sea, and matured within reach of the salt air.

At a natural 59.7% it is powerful and oily. A coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. The texture is oily and full, the smoke threaded with salt. A long, warming, peppery finish lingers. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.