Talisker Friends of the Classic Malts

A distillery bottling of Talisker and bottled at 48%. Only 9000 bottles were released. Opened at Carbost in 1831 at Carbost on the Isle of Skye, Talisker is the maritime malt of Skye. 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. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the peppery character to the fore. Carrying no age, it leans on peat smoke, brine and a black pepper kick. Long ageing turns the smoke gentle while the pepper lingers. 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 48% it is powerful and oily. A coastal peat smoke and a peppery lift ride over light oak sweetness beneath the peat. The texture is oily and full, the smoke threaded with salt. A long, briny finish ends on black pepper. This is Talisker's smoky, peppery Skye style.