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Talisker 10 Year Old / Old Presentation

Yup, it’s Talisker!

6 886

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

12th Apr 2019

1

Talisker 10 Year Old / Old Presentation
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
    ~
  • Overall
    86

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

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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8 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

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. wink

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

While I would be happy to taste from a bottle of the standard 10, and especially from this piece of history, I can't put it in my cabinet with so many bottles there already...and with a 57 N taking up an honoured place.

5 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 commented

@Nozinan The 57° North is a stunner indeed (and discontinued!). If I ever come accross that one again, I'm putting it back in my cabinet.

5 years ago 5Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@markjedi1 - 57 discontinued . . . say it isn't so!?

Makes me wonder if they might bring the 8 year out as a permanent replacement then?

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

RikS commented

It’s still available on Amazon uk and airport special (just waking through one today) for £79 for a litre bottle. Maybe one should pick one up FOMO!

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

I just checked the price of Talisker 10 in BC: $116 tax in. Ridiculous. I've bought it in Scotland in M&S, Tesco, Morrison's, Sainsbury's, even small Co-ops for 30 pounds on sale, 40 pounds regular price.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

@BlueNote yeah I got it in China for USD29 and the 57N for USD50. Here in the states the 10 is $75! Ridiculous.

5 years ago 0

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

@markjedi1 discontinued? I weep!

5 years ago 1Who liked this?