Talisker 44 Years Old

This official Talisker single malt, a 44 year old and bottled at 49.1%. The outturn was 1997 bottles. Talisker, first built in 1830 on the Minginish peninsula of Skye, is a Diageo Classic Malt. For nearly two centuries it was the only working distillery on Skye, until Torabhaig opened in 2017.

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. Very old Talisker turns profound, oily and smoky yet soft and waxy. The worm tubs slow the copper contact, building the full, oily body Talisker is known for. 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 a natural 49.1% it is powerful and oily. Sea spray, smoke and cracked pepper, with soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath the smoke run brine, citrus and a peppery oil. The finish runs oily, smoky and warm. This is the peppery maritime malt of Skye.