Talisker 14 Years Old 1979 Cask #15 (Alte Tabakstube)

Bottled by Alte Tabakstube, this Talisker matured to 14 year old from 1979, drawn from cask 15 and bottled at 46%. Just 314 bottles were filled. Established in 1830 by Loch Harport, beneath the Cuillin hills, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. The tall wash stills carry U shaped lyne arms with purifier pipes, and the spirit runs into worm tubs.

It was drawn off stills whose looped lyne arms and worm tubs build a rich, oily spirit, from peated malt, for a smoky, coastal spirit with a chilli kick. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a vanilla beneath the smoke. Past a decade the smoke mellows, the pepper settling over an oily, maritime spirit. Coastal warehousing gives the malt its mineral, sea spray lift. Founded by the MacAskill brothers in 1830, it is Skye's oldest distillery. The worm tubs build the full, oily body that carries the smoke and pepper. For most of its life Talisker stood alone on Skye, until Torabhaig opened in 2017.

At 46% it is balanced and peppery. A maritime smoke with a peppery bite sit over a gentle vanilla under the smoke. A maritime salt and a chilli warmth give it real punch. A long, briny finish ends on black pepper. This is the maritime malt made by the sea on Skye.