Talisker 10 Year Old / Old Presentation
Yup, it’s Talisker!
6 886
Review by @markjedi1
Talisker… it’s always something to look out for, I must say. This is the classic Talisker 10, but it has been sitting in the bottle for over two decades. It’s the old, so-called ‘map label’ release from the end of the former millennium. I wonder if it was as good as the current version is.
Suprisingly sweet and rather soft nose, which offers mostly vanilla, lime and rocks on the beach. The typical smoke and pepper and conspicuously absent, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell good. A bit creamy. Apples and oranges and – if you wait for it – some maritime traits. It does take about five full minutes before I can exclaim: ‘Yup, it’s Talisker!’.
On the palate, however, it’s bull’s eye from the get-go! Very creamy, peppery and wonderful smoky notes that quickly start to dominate. Very, very tasty! Apples and some citrus, a bit of smoked bacon, sea salt and grassy notes. Spicy oak gives it a nice bitter edge. Some chocolate appears. Mint arrives. Make that After Eight. I don’t think I’ve ever had that in Talisker, but I love it. This is a stunner!
Ah… that finish, wonderful! Long, smoky, peppery yet sweet, creamy with a sour edge as if from grapefruit at the death.
It’s already a tad old school and that makes it grand and interesting, certainly when compared to the current Talisker 10, which should be in anyone’s cabinet at all times.
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Thanks Mark. It's a pretty consistent performer all right. I agree, it's never out of place in a well stocked whisky cabinet. I might give it a couple more points than you, but we all know you are a bit stingy with the marks, Mark.