Talisker 35 Years Old

This Talisker, an official release matured to 35 year old from 1977 and bottled at 54.6%. 3090 bottles in all. Talisker was built in 1831 at Carbost on the shore of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye, and it remains Skye's most famous distillery. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas to keep the character.

It was worked through the distillery's looped stills and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for the peppery, maritime spirit Talisker is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak under the smoke. At three decades and more the smoke is a soft whisper over beeswax, dried fruit and a gentle pepper. Medium peating leaves the smoke balanced rather than overwhelming. The worm tubs build the full, oily body that carries the smoke and pepper. 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.

At cask strength 54.6% it is muscular. A quiet vanilla from the barrel, while peat smoke, citrus and a peppery warmth lead. A sea salt and a cracked pepper lift it. The finish is long, smoky and peppery. This is a coastal Island malt with a chilli kick.