Talisker 12 Years Old 1988 Cask #1825 (Samaroli)

This is a Talisker single malt, chosen and bottled by Samaroli, a 12 year old from 1988, drawn from cask 1825 and bottled at 45%. Only 372 bottles were released. Opened at Carbost in 1831 at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. Water comes from the Cnoc nan Speireag, the Hawk Hill, springs above the distillery.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, vanilla beneath the maritime smoke. Past a decade the smoke mellows, the pepper settling over an oily, maritime spirit. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. Medium peated malt from Glen Ord gives the smoke, the water from the Hawk Hill springs. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas. The distillery faces the water across to the hills of Skye.

Reduced to 45%, it is mellow. Sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. 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.