Talisker 175th Anniversary

In 2005, Talisker, one of my preferred distilleries, launched a 175th Anniversary edition, which they stated contained some of the distillery's rarest casks. This bottle, presented at their traditional 45.8% ABV, is exceptionally rare and now only surfaces at auctions. The nose differs slightly from other Taliskers, offering chocolate with a hint of sea salt, a touch of smoke, oranges, mint, and sawdust. After an initial taste, the aroma shifts to red fruits, strawberries, and whipped cream. The palate is nearly perfect. It begins with a taste reminiscent of cheap orange hard candy, lime, salt, and pepper. A second sip revealed cherry tomato, grain salt, strawberries, and lemon meringue, much like a lemon pie. The finish is quite sophisticated and enjoyable, with prominent sawdust, salt, and sulphur notes. It presents two distinct aftertastes: the first fades, followed by a second that emerges after a few seconds, featuring a lip-scorching ginger note. Truly excellent. Overall, this can be described as a very refined, sophisticated dram. However, it's not my ultimate favorite Talisker. I acknowledge it as a distinct, celebratory expression, rich in red fruits and cream, but it lacked the signature Skye salt and pepper character. Nevertheless, it remains a very elegant offering, earning a score of 91 out of 100.

This aged bottle has been just satisfactory for me over the years. It's generally a bit sweeter and less spicy – not really spicy at all. Basically, a pleasing mild sweetish whisky with a hint of the Talisker character. I favor Talisker 10, 18, etc.