Talisker 14 Years Old 1979 Duthie’s (R. W. Duthie & Co.)

Bottled by R. W. Duthie & Co, this Talisker matured to 14 year old from 1979 and bottled at 46%. Set by Loch Harport, beneath the Cuillin hills, Talisker has distilled since 1830. 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. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak under the smoke. Around the mid teens the malt knits smoke, salt and pepper into a fuller whole. Coastal warehousing gives the malt its mineral, sea spray lift. 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. The peat is medium rather than heavy, leaving the smoke balanced and coastal. Talisker was for nearly two centuries the only working distillery on the Isle of Skye.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. A maritime smoke with a peppery bite sit over a gentle vanilla under the smoke. It is rich and smoky, the brine and oak well matched. Pepper and sea salt see out a long finish. This is the maritime malt made by the sea on Skye.