Talisker 12 Years Old 2009 Cask #DL 15637 (Old Particular)

A Talisker single malt, selected and bottled by Douglas Laing, a 12 year old Skye malt from 2009, drawn from cask DL 15637 and bottled at 48.4%. Just 347 bottles were filled. Talisker was first built in 1830 on the storm battered coast of Skye, and it has captured the wild spirit of Skye since 1830. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas to keep the character.

Distilled on Hawk Hill water through worm tub condensers, building the bold maritime style Talisker is loved for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak under the smoke. By this age the peat softens into a rounded smoke with brine and citrus. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the smoky, peppery core over time. 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.

At cask strength 48.4% it is muscular. A touch of vanilla and oak sweetness, while peat smoke, citrus and a peppery warmth lead. It is bold and coastal, the peat and pepper to the fore. The close is long, smoke over a chilli warmth. This is a coastal Island malt with a chilli kick.