Talisker 15 Years Old 1979 (Authentic Collection)

This is a Talisker single malt, chosen and bottled by Cadenhead's, a 15 year old from 1979 and bottled at 63.6%. Talisker was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill at Carbost on the Isle of Skye; it is the oldest working distillery on the Isle 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. 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. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. The unusual two wash and three spirit still set up is a relic of triple distillation, dropped in 1928. An old visitors book records guests calling since the turn of the last century. Medium peated malt from Glen Ord gives the smoke, the water from the Hawk Hill springs.

At cask strength 63.6% it is muscular. Sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. Pepper and sea salt see out a long finish. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.