Talisker 1982 Tactical (Douglas Laing)

This is a Talisker single malt, chosen and bottled by Douglas Laing matured to 23 year old from 1982, drawn from cask DL 542 and bottled at 50%. A release of 418 bottles. Founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill at Carbost on Skye's wild west coast, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. 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 Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the smoke in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Beyond twenty years the smoke turns gentle, the malt oily and deep with dried fruit and soft pepper. Years in oak round the smoke, the pepper and brine settling with the wood.

At a full 50% it is concentrated and oily. The Oloroso brings smoked dried fruit and a nutty depth, and sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over a vanilla from the refill oak beneath. The texture is oily and full, the smoke threaded with salt. A long, peppery finish smoulders to the end. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.