Talisker Bodega Series 41 Years Old 1978

An official Talisker single malt, a 41 year old from 1978 and bottled at 50.7%. Just 2000 bottles were filled. Talisker, first built in 1830 at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, is a Diageo Classic Malt. The tall wash stills carry U shaped lyne arms with purifier pipes, and the spirit runs into worm tubs.

The spirit was made in tall pot stills with purifier loops and worm tubs, from medium peated malt, for a smoky, oily, peppery spirit. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the smoky spirit. Decades leave it deep and oxidative, mellow smoke and tropical fruit with a faint brine. Long maturation softens the peat into a mellow smoke over the maritime spirit. 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. The signature is a black pepper kick, the so called chilli catch, over maritime smoke.

At a natural 50.7% it is powerful and oily. The Manzanilla adds a dry, saline, nutty edge to the smoke, and a maritime smoke with a peppery bite sit over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. A maritime salt and a chilli warmth give it real punch. The finish is deep, oily and peppery. This is the maritime malt made by the sea on Skye.