Talisker 8 Years Old 2008 Cask #DL 11178 (Provenance)

Single malt Talisker, an independent Douglas Laing bottling, an 8 year old Skye malt from 2008, drawn from cask DL 11178 and bottled at 46%. Talisker was founded in 1830 by the MacAskill brothers at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, and it is a Diageo Classic Malt and the island's standard bearer. Its 10 year old was chosen as the Island malt of Diageo's Classic Malts series.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, vanilla beneath the maritime smoke. Still young, the malt is smoky and peppery with a coastal punch. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas. The distillery faces the water across to the hills of Skye. Talisker is made by the sea, and matured within reach of the salt air.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. A coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. A long, warming, peppery finish lingers. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.