Talisker 30 Years Old (49.6%)

A distillery bottling of Talisker, a 30 year old release and bottled at 49.6%. Just 3195 bottles were filled. Established in 1830 by Loch Harport, beneath the Cuillin hills, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. Water comes from the Cnoc nan Speireag, the Hawk Hill, springs above the distillery.

It was drawn off stills whose looped lyne arms and worm tubs build a rich, oily spirit, from peated malt, for a smoky, coastal spirit with a chilli kick. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak under the smoke. At this great age the smoke is gentle and the malt waxy, the pepper a warm memory. Sea air works into the warehouses by Loch Harport, lending a saline thread. Carbost is a tiny port on the wild west coast of Skye. The peat is medium rather than heavy, leaving the smoke balanced and coastal. Talisker was for nearly two centuries the only working distillery on the Isle of Skye.

Bottled at a cask strength 49.6%, it is intense. Sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over a gentle vanilla under the smoke. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. A long, briny finish ends on black pepper. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.