Talisker 39 Years Old 1987 Cask #22601101 (G&M)

This is a Talisker single malt, chosen and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, a 39 year old from 1987, drawn from cask 22601101 and bottled at 51.4%. The outturn was 300 bottles. Talisker was first built in 1830 at Carbost on Skye's wild west coast, and it has captured the wild spirit of Skye since 1830. 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. A sherry cask held it, sherry and smoke twining together. Decades leave it deep and oxidative, mellow smoke and tropical fruit with a faint brine. Years in oak round the smoke, the pepper and brine settling with the wood. The distillery faces the water across to the hills of Skye.

At its natural 51.4% it is rich and peppery. 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, warming, peppery finish lingers. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.