Talisker 30 Year

This whisky captured the essence of a seaside cliff path in its 2012 bottling. The ocean spray and heather are so immersive that a coastal breeze seemed to emanate from the glass. Beyond the island imagery, hints of lemon, candy sweetness, and fennel can be found. The flavors are mild initially, then erupt mid-palate with a spicy blend of black pepper and sweetened ginger. It's initially quite surprising and intense. As the ginger dissipates after a considerable time, the finish offers dry tannins. Adding water enhances the sweetness on the nose and introduces wine or sherry characteristics. The taste gains a citrus note, and the finish has some sweetened sugar and a touch of smoke. It's an intricate spirit that requires focus to uncover the flavors beneath the strong peppery mid-palate. Despite its alluring aroma, it doesn't reach the overall enjoyment of the 18-year-old, but owning a bottle would be ideal for moments needing a fantasy island escape. I regret finishing my 2oz sample so quickly.

I chose a gem for my 250th whisky and New Year's Eve drink. It's no secret that Talisker is my preferred brand, and this was truly exceptional. Coming in at 45.8% ABV, a standard Talisker strength. The color is tawny, kissed by angels. The aroma was superb. The taste was superb. The finish was superb. The harmony was superb. That's it, a perfect score. Alright, alright... I'll give you the details. This bottle costs $394. Neist Point is quite similar at $173. That's its only drawback. Nose: Blackcurrant jam combined with peat. Savory notes, aged leather (that legendary aged whisky leather scent). Fruit preserves, abundant. Worcestershire sauce and a touch of caramel/honey. Wonderful. Palate: A lovely sweetness emerges at the back. Fierce pepper. Incredibly smoky! I swear the smoke billows from your throat as if you were smoking a cigarette. Finish: Salty, with leather. So intricate and enjoyable. An amazing dram. My rating is 100 out of 100, fully deserved. All the reviews I've seen for this expression echo the perfect score. It might not be the absolute best whisky ever made, but it certainly comes very close. Cheers! Happy new year!

2017 Edition Smell: Sweet apples, nectar, citrus, saltiness Flavor: Salty fruit, mellow smoky ash, earth, sweetness, crisp apples, sweet tangerines, spicy black pepper Aftertaste: Smoky salt, earth, subtle tangerines, apples Rating: 87/100 Summary: This seemed quite like the 2011 bottling, but the aroma was less intense. The character was similar, yet I perceived it as slightly toned down. It felt like it lacked some fresh fruit notes and was more influenced by minerality, though the tangerine notes were livelier than straightforward orange, which was pleasant. Similar to the 2011, the substance and texture felt somewhat light for a 30-year-old. It was pleasant, but not outstanding. If offered, would I consume it? - Yes If given the choice, would I select it? - Perhaps Would I purchase it? - No NOTE - All evaluations are conducted independently of cost.

While I concur with the taste notes provided by RM, I lean more towards the scoring of scotch harding. It suffers from the same issue as the bottle of 18 I sampled: too hot and harsh. I've had the 25 twice; one was average and over-oaked, and the other was very good, suggesting potential variability in the higher end of the Talisker lineup. Although I generally prefer younger Islays or, ideally, blends of young and old stock, I still recognize the exceptional quality of, for instance, the Laphroaig 18 or 25. The older Taliskers I've tried mostly lack that. They seem inconsistent. I initially thought it might be a sample versus bottle difference, but I finished a whole bottle of the 18, and it didn't improve. It appears older bottlings generally received higher ratings... hopefully, another Scotch distillery isn't going downhill. I hope your bottle turns out better, [username]!

2011 Release Nose - Bright, fresh apples & pears, a whisper of salt, milk chocolate, honey, golden raisins Taste - Salty, a hint of metallic/ashy peat, fresh apples, lemon zest, a touch of bitter orange pith, light clove, honey Finish - Lasting salt, mild ash/metallic, gentle apple/pear sweetness Score - 88/100 Final Thoughts - The nose was truly amazing, full of freshly cut apples/pears. The palate was great, but it seemed a bit thin & lacked the body I'd anticipate from a 30-year-old Scotch. The flavors were present for a pleasant maritime, lightly peated whisky, and I feel this would be an excellent choice for a summer evening. I'm not convinced it has the body for a colder fall/winter setting. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - Not another one NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

1oz pour. Nose: Even superior to the 25-year-old Talisker. It boasts one of the finest aromas encountered in any whisky. Countless layers of rich sweetness and savory brine. Truly transcends typical notes. Palate: I definitely preferred the 25-year-old. This expression felt excessively mellowed. Subtle complexity is appealing, but there's a threshold where subtlety becomes unnoticeable. I found more pleasure in keeping this dram nearby for its aroma rather than its taste. 92 / 100