Talisker 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #DL 17861 (Old Particular)

Single malt Talisker, an independent Douglas Laing bottling, a 12 year old from 2010, drawn from cask DL 17861 and bottled at 48.4%. A release of 163 bottles. Talisker was established in 1830 at Carbost on Skye's wild west coast; its peppery maritime malt is loved the world over. Its 10 year old was chosen as the Island malt of Diageo's Classic Malts series.

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. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light sweetness under the peat. Around the mid teens the malt knits smoke, salt and pepper into a fuller whole. Years in oak round the smoke, the pepper and brine settling with the wood. For most of its life Talisker stood alone on Skye, until Torabhaig opened in 2017. Carbost is a tiny port on the wild west coast of Skye.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.4%, it is intense. A coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over a vanilla from the refill oak beneath. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. The finish is deep, oily and peppery. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.