Talisker 21 Years Old 1979 Bond Reserve (Cadenhead’s)

This Talisker was from the independent bottler Cadenhead's, a 21 year old Skye malt from 1979 and bottled at 60.1%. Only 300 bottles were released. Talisker was first built in 1830 at Carbost on Skye's wild west coast, and it has captured the wild spirit of Skye since 1830. Talisker is made by the sea, its character drawn from the wild Skye coast.

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. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the peppery character to the fore. Past twenty years the spirit turns deep and oily while keeping its smoky edge. A patient maturation suits the bold, maritime Talisker character. The signature is a black pepper kick, the so called chilli catch, over maritime smoke. Founded by the MacAskill brothers in 1830, it is Skye's oldest distillery.

At a natural 60.1% it is powerful and oily. A smoky, briny depth with a chilli catch sit over a vanilla from the refill oak beneath. It is rich and smoky, the brine and oak well matched. A long, peppery finish smoulders to the end. This is the wild maritime malt of Skye.