Talisker 18 Years Old

A distillery bottling of Talisker matured to 18 year old and bottled at 45.8%. Talisker was built in 1831 at Carbost by Loch Harport, beneath the Cuillin hills, and it remains Skye's most famous distillery. Its 10 year old was chosen as the Island malt of Diageo's Classic Malts series.

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. A sherry cask held it, sherry and smoke twining together. By this age the peat softens into a rounded smoke with brine and citrus. Sea air works into the warehouses by Loch Harport, lending a saline thread. 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.

At an approachable 45.8% it is balanced. The Oloroso brings smoked dried fruit and a nutty depth, and a coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over a gentle vanilla under the smoke. The texture is oily and full, the smoke threaded with salt. A long, peppery finish smoulders to the end. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.