Talisker The Distillers Edition 11 Years Old 2002

An official Talisker single malt, an 11 year old Skye malt from 2002, drawn from cask TD-S: 5PB and bottled at 45.8%. Set at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, Talisker has distilled since 1830. Talisker is made by the sea, its character drawn from the wild Skye coast.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. Maturation in Oloroso sherry laid smoked dried fruit over the peat. At this age the smoke is vigorous and the pepper sharp over a briny spirit. Long maturation softens the peat into a mellow smoke over the maritime spirit. Talisker is made by the sea, and matured within reach of the salt air. The signature is a black pepper kick, the so called chilli catch, over maritime smoke. Founded by the MacAskill brothers in 1830, it is Skye's oldest distillery.

At 45.8% it is smooth and smoky. The Oloroso brings smoked dried fruit and a nutty depth, and a smoky, briny depth with a chilli catch sit over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. It is rich and smoky, the brine and oak well matched. A long, warming, peppery finish lingers. This is the wild maritime malt of Skye.