Talisker 8 Year Diageo Special Release 2020 Rum Finish

Review by: The Muskox

I missed my review yesterday, as I was too busy playing seltzer-pong with the other cool kids at a Halloween party (it was 90s-themed, I went as Windows 95), That means double reviews today! I tried this whisky on a call with my friend paulusgaming, so read his review to get the full picture. I wasn’t really a fan of last year’s Talisker special release, so let’s see if this alternative 8-year-old from the previous year is any bettter.

Distillery: Talisker.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Islands (Isle of Skye).

ABV: 57.9%. Cask strength.

Age: 8 years. Bottled in 2020.

Cask type: Finished in rum casks.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: White wine. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Bright, briny, and rather estery-funky from the rum. Fresh salsa (tomato, lime, cilantro)! Classic Talisker of strong black pepper, pungent salt, and boat fumes emanating from a gunky lakeside boathouse. There’s definitely a cane-sugar note here, as well as hints of brown banana and pear. Baking spice and sandalwood. Interesting savoury notes of washed-rind cheese, onion powder, and serrano peppers.

With a dribble of water, more banana and vanilla.

Palate: Medium texture. Briny and banana-estery on the arrival, and a bit young and green, but very sweet, drenched in sugar cane juice. The strong brine continues into the development, with pungent peat, smoked fish, and black pepper. Green apple and more brown banana. Creamy, funky camembert! Lots of citrus on the back end.

Water makes things sweeter at the expense of some of the smoke. Sort of a mineral note.

Finish: Medium-length, sweet. Butterscotch and caramel apples, zingy citrus (Five Alive!), Krispy Kremes, and hints of honey. Smoky notes of bacon, black pepper, and street soot. A bit of a youthful greenness.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Playa de gallo (or pico de playa?)”

Conclusion: An extremely briny-spirity example of Talisker, which I can’t say is as much to my taste as more rounded examples. The brine and pepper are extreme – where the 2021 release felt like it lacked Talisker character, this feels almost like an overdose. There’s complexity, but also a youthful character that I’m not in love with. Overall, I do prefer it slightly to the 2021.

Final Score: 81.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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