Talisker 25 Years Old (54.2%)

A distillery bottling of Talisker, aged 25 year old and bottled at 54.2%. Only 9708 bottles were released. Talisker was established in 1830 at Carbost on Skye's wild west coast; its peppery maritime malt is loved the world over. Water comes from the Cnoc nan Speireag, the Hawk Hill, springs above the distillery.

Distilled in tall stills with U shaped lyne arms and condensed in worm tubs, from peated Glen Ord malt, building the smoky, briny Skye character. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak under the smoke. Long ageing brings a soft smoke, dried fruit and a mellow, peppery brine. Years in oak round the smoke, the pepper and brine settling with the wood. 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.

At its natural 54.2% it is rich and peppery. Sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over a vanilla from the refill oak beneath. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. Pepper and sea salt see out a long finish. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.