ose: better rounded, and rather more herbal than I remembered. Caraway, cumin… Then more damp chalk and clay, antiseptic, braking fluid, creosote, notes of overripe oranges, bandages, oysters ‘from yesterday’… There is some wildness, and yet it’s clean and precise spirit. Love it. Always loved it. Mouth: amazing. Everything’s perfect. Lemon, wet clothes, raw wool, grains, porridge (not my favourite food, though), pepper, some kind of green curry, seaweed (the stuff our Japanese friends serve as salad, the name escapes me)… Frankly, this is great whisky. Finish: long, salty, clean, and yet complex, and yet finely delimited (what?) Comments: bang for your buck! Having said that, I’m feeling that Talisker’s becoming more medicinal these days. And maybe peatier again. Nice cure, nice cure.
Gal Granov (89)
Nose: This is a whole different dram here. The fruits are almost gone. Much more masculine with Peat and quite the earthy peat that is. Charred wood, smoked kippers, seaweed and traces of apple and soot.
Palate : Waves of earthy sort of peat. Some smoke. Leather. Damp earth.Layers of Pepper , dry.
Finish : Some Wood , malt and bitter pepper. very long and satisfying.
This is a cracker of a dram, and no wonder it is liked by so many and considered a classic. Good stuff: bold, peppery, with earthy peat and just the amount of fruit, and seaweed. Great Bang for your buck ratio with this one, and if you have not tried, it. you should.
Words of Whisky (89)
Whiskynoptes:
Nose: better than how I remembered it, less porridgy. This time I’m simply getting the soft smoke, classic oily notes and peppery edge. Lots of coastal notes, seashells and iodine. Lovely mentholated / eucalyptus notes. It displays a nice sharpness but it’s perfectly elegant at the same time. Subtle sweet lemon in the background.
Mouth: sweet malty notes, alongside hints of banana loaf, with plenty of lemony acidity and big, big trademark pepper. Some vanilla. Traces of salty liquorice.
Finish: very long, with the same lemony tension, peppery and a hint of camphor.
A great pour and a deserved classic malt. I’ve always liked the Talisker 18 Years better but this is top notch.
