Talisker 8 Years Old TDA (45.8%)

A distillery bottling of Talisker, an 8 year old Skye malt and bottled at 45.8%. Talisker was opened at Carbost in 1831 by Loch Harport, beneath the Cuillin hills; for nearly two centuries it was the only distillery on Skye. Water comes from the Cnoc nan Speireag, the Hawk Hill, springs above the distillery.

It was drawn off stills whose looped lyne arms and worm tubs build a rich, oily spirit, from peated malt, for a smoky, coastal spirit with a chilli kick. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, vanilla beneath the maritime smoke. Younger here, it keeps a fierce peat and a clear chilli kick. Sea air works into the warehouses by Loch Harport, lending a saline thread. 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. After a stillhouse fire in 1960, the five stills were rebuilt as exact replicas.

Bottled at 45.8%, it is rounded. Sea brine, smoke and a black pepper kick ride over a gentle vanilla under the smoke. The mouthfeel is oily, the smoke carried on a peppery body. Pepper and sea salt see out a long finish. This is Skye's famous peppery single malt.