Talisker 8 Year (2018 Special Release)

My experience with whisky is not extensive enough to confirm if older whiskies were superior. However, even at its worst, any Talisker I've sampled has been at least acceptable, if not good. This 2018 special release supposedly evokes classic Taliskers from the 70s and 80s. It was aged in first-fill ex-bourbon hogsheads and bottled at a natural cask strength of 59.4% ABV. Nose: Potent. A strong sweetness of tropical malt, orange, perhaps red berry, mingled with a faint metallic and medicinal cool smoke. Subtle notes of vanilla, toffee, and pepper underneath. Palate: A punch. Peppery smoke transitions to red chili. BBQ meats, sweet apple, mocha, blackcurrant. It's complex, but heavy and likely overpowered by the high ABV. Finish: Long. Smoldering charred wood, metallic minerality, delicately floral notes, and lingering chili and black pepper. Adding a few drops of water enhances the nose; fresh malt becomes more evident, the BBQ notes develop, and orange dominates the sweeter aspects. The smoke now has an almost menthol coolness. It's considerably softer, rounder, and juicier. The chili and pepper heat is reduced, leaning towards the fruitier end of the chili spectrum. The BBQ meat transforms into honey-glazed ham with a char, and the smoke resembles embers hit by sea spray. The finish remains similar, with the smoldering ember smoke being fantastic. Finally, a distinct saltiness emerges, which is spectacular. Damn, finding bottles of this, if they were even in stock, now range from AUD$300 to truly astonishing prices. I'm not surprised; for an 8-year-old, it possesses exceptional character and flavor development. The youth might be apparent in the high ABV, which, combined with the classic Talisker chili kick, is a bit aggressive. Nevertheless, if this were the only whisky you could ever drink again, I doubt there would be many complaints. If Talisker's quality was this high 30-40 years ago, I feel compelled to dedicate my life to time travel. Talisker evaluation #260 [Pictured alongside an emerald schist. Once upon a time (around lunchtime on a Tuesday in the Oligocene epoch) the Proterozoic (ancient) metamorphic basement rocks of the Panjsher Valley in Afghanistan were intruded by numerous granites. The subsequent fracturing, hot fluid circulation, and alteration of the schists resulted in the schist being overprinted with feldspars (white), tourmaline (black), and substantial emeralds] Talisker performance metrics: T10: 4/5 T18: 4.75/5 Skye: 3.25/5 Port Ruighe: 2.75/3 Storm: 3.5/5 Dark Storm: 4.25/5 Surge: 4/5 57 North: 4.25/5 X Parley Wilder Seas: 4.25/5 T8 2018 Special Release: 4.5/5 T8 2021 Special Release: 4.5/5

After two weeks in Iceland with no spirits (or any alcohol, as it's incredibly expensive there!), I returned home and opened this sample provided by a friend. After letting it rest a bit while catching up on shows, I took a sip. My initial thought was disbelief that I acquired it for $50 and then sold it for $60 (I was trying to downsize my collection and foolishly underestimated a young Talisker). What was I thinking? So foolish. At its initial $50 price point, I should have bought multiples. It's now unfortunately difficult to find outside of exorbitant auction prices. Despite being two years younger than the 10-year-old, it presents as a few years older, closer to an 18-year-old but at cask strength. You get meaty, salty notes, reminiscent of a butcher shop by the sea. Then comes the signature Talisker pepper, but more aggressive. Talisker at cask strength is typically intense, yet this strikes an incredible balance between roughness and refinement. It's what the 10-year-old aims to achieve. This is an absolutely fantastic purchase at the original $50 price. I'm unsure of current secondary market prices, but I suspect they well exceed $150. I wouldn't consider buying it above $90, as I can find similar satisfaction with the Corry or Uigi. However, at $50, it was a steal. A solid 4.5 stars, with an increase considering the original $50 cost. Did I mention how regretful I am about selling mine?

This was among over two dozen whiskies sampled on Saturday at The Whisky Show London, which was undoubtedly the premier event of its kind I've attended. I happened to be in the city this weekend and was fortunate enough to secure a ticket from the event's waiting list, as it had officially sold out. I often tell myself I'll stop attending these events as they truly contradict the essence of whisky appreciation, but the reasonable pricing and incredible selection of pours made this one difficult to pass up. It felt as though The Whisky Exchange had opened its doors wide, encouraging everyone to indulge. Every imaginable distiller was present, offering their finest drams, alongside all the renowned independent bottlers. It speaks volumes about the challenge of choosing from over 600 options that I nearly overlooked the Pappy Van Winkle booth. Naturally, detailed tasting notes are impractical under these conditions, but I will endeavor to share a few, accompanied by numerous four and five-star ratings. With such an abundance of choices, it was easy to bypass the merely average whiskies. The Talisker 8 was surprisingly mellow for a cask-strength offering and as distinct from the 10 as the 10 is from the 18. The predominant flavor was Nutella. Specifically, chocolate and hazelnut. Beyond that, I have no further useful observations for now, though I did bring a bottle back for a colleague. Perhaps they will share.

A 4.4 average score from 12 reviews suggests excellence. It's a delightful pour. With ample water and patience...marmalade, white pepper, sweet vanilla, and heavy salty peat emerge. It's lighter and more polished than the 10, giving the impression of greater age. I believe I'm smitten...could it reach the highest whisky echelons? Initially, I considered it a 4, then certainly a 4.25, and ultimately a 4.5... it continuously improves with time. Is it comparable to the 10? Yes... different, but I found them to be on par. I opened the 10 for comparison... the 8-year-old definitely wins on the nose. The palate is a tough call... the 10 is richer but slightly more aggressive, though it hasn't benefited from being open for a while... the 8-year-old is so full of flavor and refinement. The 10 is significantly cheaper, so even if the 8-year-old excels in taste, the value proposition makes it a tie. The 8-year-old is what I had hoped the 18 would be (I definitely received a faulty bottle). Once again, it's a great example that older isn't always superior, as it surpasses the (faulty) 18 and 25-year-old bottles and drams I sampled. It's a 4.5... perhaps a 4.75... if I could find a bottle, I would purchase it (a rarity now). Be sure to add water and let this one rest in the glass to experience its full potential.

When discussing smoky whiskies, Talisker is my preferred spirit. I had the chance to try this younger version, bottled at a robust 59.4% abv, designed to hit hard. This is a special 2018 Diageo release. On the nose: Immediate smoke with citrus. Dry grass burning, hay burning. Caramel. Lemon appears after the first taste. Dulce de leche. On the palate, it's a fantastic spirit. Caramel is present alongside smoke. Pepper emerges. It's like a higher proof Talisker... wait! Caramel and smoke. The finish is the highlight of this satisfying whisky. Ashes, bonfire. Salty. It left my mouth burning forever, but in a good way. All in all, this, like all Taliskers, is a superb whisky. It delivers all the flavor you desire, with that signature profile from the distillery. 90 out of 100. Incredible.

You wouldn't guess it's only 8 years old in a blind test. This Lagavulin 2006 30 Year offered tropical and citrus notes. Aroma: Golden Kiwis, Pineapples, Quince Pears, Papayas, Smoke, Lychees, Lemon Iced Tea, Plums, Raisins, Toasted Marshmallows Palate: Walnuts, Plums, Raisins, Figs, Dates, Golden Syrup, Salted Caramel, Iodine, Elderflowers, Key Lime Pie, Molasses Finish: Figs, Bacon, Smoke, Papayas, Figs, Elderflower, Caramel, Golden Syrup, Bananas, Molasses, Toasted Marshmallows, Mangoes