Talisker 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #HL 20248 (Old Malt Cask)

Single malt Talisker, an independent Hunter Laing bottling, a 15 year old release from 2008, drawn from cask HL 20248 and bottled at 50%. Only 128 bottles were released. Set at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, Talisker has distilled since 1830. Its 10 year old was chosen as the Island malt of Diageo's Classic Malts series.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. An Oloroso sherry cask wrapped the smoke in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Past a decade the smoke mellows, the pepper settling over an oily, maritime spirit. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. The unusual two wash and three spirit still set up is a relic of triple distillation, dropped in 1928. An old visitors book records guests calling since the turn of the last century.

At a full 50% it is concentrated and oily. The Oloroso brings smoked dried fruit and a nutty depth, and a coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. Pepper and sea salt see out a long finish. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.