Talisker 25 Years Old The Queen’s Silver Jubilee (G&M)

A Talisker single malt, selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, aged 25 year old and bottled at 70%. Opened at Carbost in 1831 on the Minginish peninsula of Skye, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas to keep the character.

The spirit was run through the unusual two and three still set up and cooled in worm tubs, for the rich, oily, peppery make at its heart. 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. The U shaped lyne arms add reflux and an oily refinement to the spirit. Talisker is made by the sea, and matured within reach of the salt air. 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.

Undiluted at 70%, it is deep and smoky. Soft vanilla and honey from the cask, while peat smoke, citrus and a peppery warmth lead. It is bold and coastal, the peat and pepper to the fore. The finish is long, smoky and peppery. This is a coastal Island malt with a chilli kick.