Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye, the largest and most northerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It was founded in 1830 by two local brothers, Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, after they decided to move to Skye from the Isle of Eigg and convert Talisker House and its surrounding buildings in to a legal distillery. The distillery is currently owned by Diageo.
Talisker is located on the shores of Loch Harport, close to the village of Carbost, in the shadow of the imposing Cuillin Hills. Despite its remote location, Talisker is Diageo’s most visited distillery and one of the most visited distilleries in Scotland with over 60,000 visitors per year. It has a current annual production capacity of 3 million litres through five copper pot stills and rare traditional worm tubs which add to the distillery’s charm.
Our tasting notes
This whisky is designed to show a balance of distillery character and the influence of wood. The Talisker spirit is peated to around 20PPM and shows lots of fresh grassy and peppery notes plus a characteristic saltiness. The use of ex-bourbon casks that have freshly charred shells and heavily charred ends lends sweet honey vanilla notes.
The spirit is a bright autumnal gold and, on the nose, the sweet honey and vanilla characters from the casks are upfront and unapologetic. Further nosing reveals depths of perfumery florals and chilli pepper plus only the slightest hint of smoke. The palate quite nicely matches the nose with similar characters but here the smoke is more than just a hint. The finish is moderate but moreish being both sweet and drying with lots of vanilla and a linger of smokiness.
What's the verdict?
This is a spirit that could act as a great entry level smoky whisky for those who like sweeter whiskies and possible even bourbons. It is not overpoweringly smoky nor overwhelmingly complex, but does offer enough to make it assertive for the first timer. It also is suitably priced not to daunt the first timer either. It is not a whisky for the peat-heads out there but nor does it claim to be.
We would hope this could be a whisky to introduce a new generation of drinkers to Scottish island smokiness. This whisky rightfully sits next to its brothers, Storm and Port Ruighe, by showing a fruitier and fresher side of Talisker distillery yet maintaining that family characteristic that makes Talisker individual.
5 comments:
Thank you for the information, I have just received a bottle of Talisker Skye as a gift (I live in Spain) and always like some good info first so thanks again for the write up!
With the recent addition of a bottle of Talisker Skye, a generous gift from a friend, I now have a small collection of twelve more or less well known single malt whiskies, some sampled, others untouched. I will try a sip of it soon but cannot begin to compete with the, dare I say, elaborate and pretentious analysis offered by many whisky (and wine) commentators.
I have enjoyed whiskies for many years, almost always main stream blended supermarket offerings, though Johnie Black Label was rather special, especially at £5 a litre on BA flights back from Cairo in the late 1980s.
Many, especially those north of the border, might be apoplectic to hear that I now take mine with Coca cola, not finding dry ginger or the like available in the Middle East.
Talisker Skye is yet another mass marketing trick from a conglomerate - line extension - to piggy back cheaper products onto a classic brand name. Wake up Whisky drinkers, demand better. DeBo.
Can you tell me how old this whisky is? I note that no age is stated on the bottle.
it tastes really bad...like a mix of petrol and washing powder
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