Talisker 8 Year (2020 Special Release)

I've stated it before and will reiterate: rum cask finishes generally don't appeal to me; I find them too overpowering to be well-balanced and, in my view, not very good. However, this is the renowned Talisker, so surely the 2020 special edition will impress… Nose: Remarkable! Right away, the aroma presents a tart sweetness, reminiscent of fermenting apples on an orchard floor. After a brief pause… Okay. Now that the initial intense sour-sweetness has subsided, a delicate sweetness emerges, infused with seaside minerality, fresh seaweed, a hint of antiseptic, stewed brown sugar and apple, and finally, the signature Talisker bonfire. The smoke is cool, somewhat distant, and quite pleasant. Palate: This is 57.9% ABV? I find that hard to believe! It's remarkably gentle, smooth, silky, and coats the mouth beautifully. If I were fluent in French, speaking in a dimly lit, sophisticated jazz club in the 1920s, I imagine the mouthfeel would be similar. The texture is exquisite. A deepening caramel and pleasant oaky spice gradually appear, accompanied by hints of ash and stony, granitic pebbles. The apple and banana-pineapple fruit notes pick up a BBQ char and the saltiness of bacon ends. The medicinal-iodine notes shift to the edges of the palate. Black pepper steadily builds throughout the entire experience. Finish: Extended. The black pepper evolves into a very prominent red chili heat. Caramelized banana and pineapple remain as vestiges of sweetness, and the smoke fades to ash and briny embers. A few drops of water have minimal positive impact. If anything, the nose is dulled, and a generic burn emerges, though the minerality might become more apparent. The palate also becomes muted; it no longer strongly resembles Talisker, feeling thin and losing its silky satisfaction. It becomes difficult to discern any distinct character. It's no longer sophisticated; instead, I feel like I'm speaking Dutch (Babel claims it's the least appealing language – no offense intended to any Dutch speakers!). With water, the finish is ashy and smoky. So there we have it. I've discovered a rum cask I can appreciate. This is fantastic. Beyond the initial powerful impression, what remains is a spirit of craft strength, boasting texture and nuance, with no hint of its high ABV. Skip the water and prepare for a building, chili-driven crescendo. Is the chili slightly out of balance by the end? Perhaps, but who cares, I'm speaking French now. This now serves as my benchmark for all other rum cask finishes. Well played, Talisker, well played. Review #262 [Pictured with an emerald-biotite schist from Western Australia. It's late, and I'm ready for bed. The rock is ancient, the emeralds are green and beautiful. Rocks are fantastic.] Talisker overall scores: 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 T15 2019 Special Release: 3.5/5 T8 2020 Special Release: 4.25/5 T8 2021 Special Release: 4.5/5

It's been a couple of months since my last whiskey. Usually, I have a little bit every Saturday night, but I'd lost my interest for a while. I always made sure to open a special bottle for significant family birthdays or achievements. So, after this break, I opened this one to celebrate my son's birthday. First, let's address the elephant in the room concerning these Diageo special releases and their cost. Over time, the prices for these younger malts have climbed to match those of much older ones. The only thing that's been 'special' is usually a different cask finish or a cask strength version. I'm a big admirer of Talisker, so I purchased this even though I knew I was overpaying by $100 for an 8-year-old. I also got the Lag special release, hoping to open it for another celebration. Now, about the drink itself. This year marks a first for Talisker: a rum finish and a cask strength bottling. I really enjoyed the 2018 8-year-old version, so I was hopeful about this one too. That rum finish is noticeable on the nose. You get the smoke and sea salt, but with a sweet hint. It's like smoky salted caramel. However, on the palate, I'm not picking up the subtle notes. I'm just getting the typical Talisker brine and peat, but more intense than the standard 10. I suspect the finishing period wasn't long enough, or perhaps it was a second or third-fill cask. So, if you're a devoted Talisker fan, this is a must-try for its uniqueness and cask strength. It's an excellent spirit. For $100, it's not outrageously expensive, but honestly, you can find older whiskeys for the same price. This and the Lag special release are likely the hardest to find, primarily because they are reasonably priced and quite distinctive. But if you're not a huge Talisker fan, I'd suggest spending that $100 on a more mature whiskey. Personally, I love Talisker, so it's a solid pour, and I'd happily buy it again. If any of my usual companions are interested in a taste, let me know. I'm barely drinking these days, so I definitely won't finish this bottle anytime soon. I'm happy to share a dram or two, just cover the shipping costs.

It's December 2020. Let's end this year with a new whiskey or whisky daily. It's my own whiskey advent calendar. +7! Dec. 28, 2020 I sampled this whisky alongside my Talisker 10 for comparison. Thanks for the sample from a friend! This is much lighter in color than the 10yr. Nose is meaty, I'd say vinegar-based barbecue or corned beef. Mildly sour, with vanilla too. The 10-year is meatier, but you lose some of the complexity I find here. I prefer this nose. Body is oily and creamy, I get malt chocolate, cream, caramel, peanut butter. The flavors on the body are sweet, dessert-like, and muted compared to the finish. I think the smoked meat is present on the body, but it's hard to notice compared to its presence on the finish. The 10-year isn't far off here on notes, but is far less rich in flavor. That finish punches back intensely with brisket. It lingers, and I appreciate it. Slight black pepper here, but the meat is the main focus. The 10-year's finish is nonexistent by comparison. It's really fascinating to me that with less age and color (i.e., effects from barrel exposure) you can get more intensity and complexity of flavor. I can tell this whisky is related to the 10-year, but this one feels substantially more refined. The way they balanced the body to finish experience is something truly special. I'd really like to know what techniques they use to achieve this, because while I more or less understand the artistry behind bourbon making, the artistry behind scotch making is still somewhat of a mystery to me. That said, I love this whisky, and I'll know better in the future than to assume that older automatically means better within a brand. Edit: I just read on a friend's review that this is a rum finish, and everything makes so much more sense now. I mean it. Everything. I think I learned C++ just by reading that. ‘Tis the season. My whiskey selection is day-to-day, so if you're reading this and there's something readily available you'd like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

Moving is challenging, especially across state lines. Starting anew involves a new job, home, commute, and social circle, all of which can be taxing. Fortunately, spirits can offer solace. After completing a PhD program, which involved years of stress and uncertainty, I celebrated by visiting Scotland and the distillery. At a tasting of rare expressions, I sampled whiskies ranging from 8 to 45 years old. I acquired the eight-year-old special edition from 2020, a cask-strength bottling with a pleasant rum finish. It has been open for about four months. I invited a new colleague over for drinks. He enjoys peated spirits, so after sampling a few drams, we concluded with this one. Once it had opened up in the bottle, it became nearly perfect. Classic distillery brine and chili pepper notes are enveloped in delightful tropical fruit. It's a combination where mango and oysters surprisingly work well together. Although I purchased this at the distillery, it's likely scarce elsewhere, possibly only on the secondary market. If you can find it, I believe it's worth a price increase. It's delicious and aids in making connections. Cheers!

Nose - earthy peat, brine, rocky minerality, lemon meringue, iodine, sweet chili BBQ sauce, pineapple rind, vanilla, plantain, oyster, mignonette, white wine, powdered sugar, cinnamon, clove, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - lemon meringue, sweet peat, rock salt, pineapple, marshmallow, salted caramel, cinnamon, flint, smoked meat, vanilla cream, clove, iodine, chili pepper, grapefruit, cinnamon, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with lemon zest, sweet, briny peat, and rich tropical fruit flavors. Yes! This is how I want my Talisker to be. The nose is milder than I anticipated, but juicy, tropical fruit notes join that meaty, briny, peaty classic aroma I know and love. There’s a more pronounced mineral quality that conjures memories of shucked oysters with lemon and mignonette sauce. The palate is next level awesomeness. To say it’s mouth watering is an understatement. The rum finish is subtle, but adds a nice tropical juiciness not found in the core range. The smoky, salty, high proof arrival initially sucks the moisture from your mouth, which is then immediately quenched by juicy, citric fruitiness, only to be followed by the return of rocky, briny peat on the finish, drawing you back in for another sip. I need a bottle of this. Why didn’t I buy one when it released?! I thought for a good while about giving this a perfect score, but I think it just slightly misses the mark. Nonetheless, this is a phenomenal whisky that deserves your attention. If anyone has a line on one anywhere near retail, let me know. I’ve already spent a couple months’ worth of my liquor budget this past week, but would make yet another exception and add this to my collection. A big thank you to a friend for the sample. This one is special.

Founded in 1830, Talisker is located in Scotland on the isle of Skye. Owned by Diageo, and was named by the original estate which was 5 miles west then the original village it was founded. They use steam heating which was converted in the 1970s, their stills produce approx. 3.5 million liters per year and they have unusual swan neck lye pipes. The dram of the night is the 2020 portfolio release of their 8 year old cask strength, but their very first rum finish single malt. Is the hype real? Review below: Colour: straw gold - appears to be natural colour - initial aging showing American oak. Nose: sea salt, white pepper, banana, smoke, vanilla, youthful heat, iodine. Palate: Body: 3.75/4.0, sweet, smoky, salty. Nose characters following to palate. Finish: medium- long, wet finish, pepper and the heat from the youth pairs with the peat and smoke with soft sweetness. Overall: solid dram. A lot of young cask strengths are popping up and this one punches above its weight. Thankful Canada received the 750ml bottling. Yeah it’s a top dram. Would we repurchase = yes, would recommend = yes. Score: 92/100. LCBO price: $120CAD.