Talisker 11 Years Old 2011 Cask #HL 19902 (Old Malt Cask)

Hunter Laing bottled this Talisker single malt, an 11 year old Skye malt from 2011, drawn from cask HL 19902 and bottled at 50%. Just 431 bottles were filled. Talisker, first built in 1830 on the Minginish peninsula of Skye, is a Diageo Classic Malt. Medium peated malt from Glen Ord gives the smoke, around eighteen to twenty two parts per million.

The spirit was run through the unusual two and three still set up and cooled in worm tubs, for the rich, oily, peppery make at its heart. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the smoky spirit. Still young, the malt is smoky and peppery with a coastal punch. The worm tubs slow the copper contact, building the full, oily body Talisker is known for. The signature is a black pepper kick, the so called chilli catch, over maritime smoke. Founded by the MacAskill brothers in 1830, it is Skye's oldest distillery.

At 50%, undiluted, it is bold and smoky. The Oloroso brings smoked dried fruit and a nutty depth, and smoke, salt and a warming pepper, with soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath the smoke run brine, citrus and a peppery oil. It finishes smoky, salty and warming. This is a smoky, peppery Island whisky.