Review by: The Muskox

I think I like Taliskers that are less peaty. 2021’s special release of Talisker was extra-peaty, so me not enjoying it that much seems to support that. Wouldn’t you know, this release from the very next year is lighter on the peat! Let’s try and confirm the theory.

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Distillery: Talisker.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Islands.

ABV: 55.1%. Cask strength.

Age: 11 years. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: Light gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Is this really less-peaty? There’s still some pungent, spicy smoke, with the classic Talisker chili flakes and bracing sea salt. There’s definitely some strong fresh fruit – crisp apples, mixed citrus juices, nectarines. Some grilled shrimp and Carolina barbeque sauce. A little bit grassy.

Palate: Medium texture, some heat. Arrives with burnt sugar, honey, grass, and savoury notes – cochinita pibil (pork cooked with bitter orange juice, achiote, and spices). Baked apples and some pretty rich peat smoke on the development. White chocolate fudge, toffee, cinnamon, dried chilis, and dried oregano. Lots of salt and various dissolved minerals.

Finish: Medium-length, fresh-fruity. More apples, peaches, and citrus, joined by lots of sweet pineapple and some banana. More burnt sugar and oregano, too. Just salt and a little earthiness lingering; the peat is mostly gone.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Mayan orchard brulée”

Conclusion: Did the Mayans have orchards? I don’t know. Anyways, for “less-peaty Talisker”, this is still pretty peaty! Maybe it’s a Classic-Laddie-like effect – all the same coastal notes and worm-tub savouriness provide peat-like notes that aren’t actually smoke. It’s a little bit on the sweeter and fruitier side, but not by much .This comes across to me more like just a normal cask-strength Talisker. Thankfully, cask-strength Talisker is generally delicious, and this is no exception. Big flavour, great mix of fresh fruit and savouriness. Maybe tastes a little on the young side, but whatever.

Final Score: 85.

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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.