Talisker Distillers Edition (2023 Release)

A quick thought before I start: if you’re the type to blame referees for your team’s losses, you’re probably the kind of kid who took his toys and went home when he wasn’t winning. Maybe if it’s a close game and there's a bad call, you have a small point, but you still sound like a whiny child, so please stop. This applies to fans of my team as much as any other. Stop it. Seriously. You sound like babies. Bad calls are frustrating and happen to everyone; it’s part of the game. Am I tempting fate for a bad call against the Eagles in a close game this week that I'll want to complain about? Possibly. But you won't hear me whining because I practice what I preach. I mention this because I did this tasting while watching the Eagles defeat the Packers, and many Packers fans are blaming the refs instead of Jordan Love's three interceptions or the Green Bay coaches' strategy for the loss. It is what it is. And the whiskey flowed. This week, I sampled: Bushmills Distillery Exclusive Acacia Wood, Talisker 2023 Distiller’s Edition, and Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release. I tasted them in that sequence, from lowest to highest proof, so let’s get right to it: Bushmills Distillery Exclusive Acacia Wood My wife traveled to Ireland last summer. When she visited Teeling, she asked what I wanted. I requested Blackpitts Cask Strength and Wonders of Wood Swedish Edition, which wasn’t available in the US yet. She visited Midleton and asked again. I asked for Gold Spot, Powers John Lane Cask Strength, and Method & Madness Garryana Oak. Visiting Bushmills, she asked what I wanted. I told her I had no clue, I don't usually drink Bushmills, and to ask about any distillery exclusives unavailable elsewhere. She returned with two, the first we opened on Christmas Eve and then used for this tasting: Bushmills with no age statement, finished in Acacia wood. I don’t want to bash Bushmills. They’re decent for a beginner's drink. I’d happily drink Black or Red Bush if nothing else was available, but a downside is their low proof. This Acacia wood version is actually a bit higher than their standard offerings at 94 proof, which is promising. However, I still chose it first, mistakenly thinking it was 80 proof based on my Christmas Eve experience. Nose: Grassy and fresh with cereal, light vanilla, and mild orchard fruit. Not much is happening, but it's not offensive, which seems to be a good description for most Bushmills. It makes me wonder what the Acacia wood actually contributes here. Palate: It has an apple tart/Honey Nut Cheerios character, common in many blended Irish whiskies without the copper notes. This is a single malt, so I’d expect more. There’s a hint of peach and a soft vanilla. It remains delicate but is more balanced than the nose. Finish: Brief, with a spiced apple taste. Overall, I’m not convinced a whole bottle was necessary. It’s the type of dram you don’t mind trying at the distillery, but as a souvenir from Ireland, it falls short, and I’m not sure it’s superior to Black Bush. I would have been curious to compare them directly, as I recall Black Bush having a bolder profile due to its oloroso sherry finish. I won’t dismiss Bushmills Acacia Wood entirely, but it's perhaps slightly above average. Talisker 2023 Distiller’s Edition The major change with the 2023 Distiller’s Edition releases was the removal of age statements. Since I’m not comparing it to a prior version, the question remains: does the lack of an age statement mean it tastes younger, or is it just my perception influenced by knowing the bottling dates were omitted? Nose: This was obviously meant to be a complete contrast to the Bushmills, as I often gain more from tasting differences than similarities. The nose presents a dark wine sweetness alongside moderate peat, an aroma of black cherries, and a faint saltiness, providing that Talisker cured meat hint I felt was missing from the Tidal Surge 8 I tried last week. The last Distiller's Edition I had, possibly from 2019 or 2020, I reviewed and mentioned wishing for a candle with its scent. I can't say the same here, although it is good. It just lacks the magic of the previous one. Something is missing that was in earlier versions, but I can't pinpoint it. Palate: More sweet than peaty. The Amoroso Sherry adds a nice touch, but I feel it also lacks potency on the palate compared to previous Distiller's Editions. They bottle around 92 proof for each edition, so it's not watered down. Could younger whisky be blended in that doesn't pack the same punch as older stock? Or is it the lingering memory of tasting the barrel-proof Tidal Surge 8 Year last week, making the cask strength Talisker exceptionally vivid in my mind? It's like drinking a flat soda version of Talisker. The sweetness and peat combination is present as expected, but it just doesn't pop. Again, I wouldn't refuse it, but it doesn't quite reach the standard of the last bottle I had, at least from memory. So, is memory making past experiences seem better than current ones? Finish: The peat lingers moderately, and salinity takes over at the end. Overall, I enjoyed this, but it didn't perform as well as previous Distiller's Editions. And given that the price doesn't decrease when the age statement is removed, this might be my final Talisker Distiller's Edition. Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release I had almost given up on finding this one. It was available at state-run stores in Pennsylvania but sold out quickly. Since none of the local stores were convenient for me during work hours, I wrote it off as a missed opportunity. You don't need to try every great whisky; some will pass you by. Then, we had a birthday party in Delaware mid-December, and Total Wine had plenty of these at the suggested retail price. So, I asked my wife to stop there first. And I'm so glad she did. Honestly, this was the highlight of the evening. Many people compare it to a boosted Wild Turkey 101. Frankly, I don't know which 101 they're drinking. To me, 101 is a decent starting point with some flavor, but it lacks the power and complexity of this release. Nose: Swirls of brown sugar and caramel, cocoa powder with a hint of oak, a subtle nuttiness, and traces of coconut. Palate: Milk chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and more pronounced coconut, reminiscent of a Mounds bar, with a creamy texture and a strong return of brown sugar. Finish: Long, with a blend of sweetness and spice, and a lingering chocolate note. Overall, I considered buying a second bottle while there but didn't due to the December timing and my already high credit card balance from Christmas shopping, a decision I now regret. I probably would have saved a second bottle for a few years later when the memory faded, but at least I got one. My wife agreed and loved it too. We likely overindulged a bit, but it was fine. After the Eagles game, we watched Singles, one of our favorite movies, and truly enjoyed the night. Last week, I named winners for nose, palate, and finish, but there's no doubt the Wild Turkey excelled in all three categories here. Excellent whisky, incredible value.

I'm somewhat fond of the new appearance of Talisker. The rugged label has a very maritime feel, which naturally aligns with this distillery's most distinctive profile. One of their new, attractive bottles is the customary annual "Distiller's Edition," recognized for its amoroso sherry aging. I've enjoyed this expression, as I have most Taliskers I've encountered. Let's see if their most recent 2023 release is any good: On the nose, I detect the anticipated red fruitiness, saline notes, and a very intriguing aroma I can only describe as a dusty, home carpet from the 1970s-80s. After a few sips, the scent also brought to mind a pair of new cotton socks. On the palate, it feels somewhat thin. I get sour prunes, red fruits, red chili, and maraschino cherries. Not very impressive. A bit dull. The finish is different from the nose and palate. Smoke, red chili, and thick salt. In summary, this might be the Talisker I've liked the least. It's dull, light, straightforward, lacking flavor and enjoyment. A toned-down version of a single malt I typically praise. I suppose not every year can be outstanding. My rating for this dram is 83 out of 100.

Nose: Seaside and Smoke. Pepper on savory meat. Subtle wine influence. Burnt caramel and raspberries Palate: Starts thin then gradually expands with notes of leather, tobacco, saltwater, and country ham. Finish: Features oak spice, clove, and spiced orange A friend returned from Scotland and shared a dram of this with me. Adding water revealed smoke and grassy notes on the nose. Enhanced smokiness and oak spice for me, with orange lingering in the finish.

Pleasant and smooth, with a subtle intensity that fades nicely. From the start, a smooth woody/smoky taste appears with just a hint of peat. The peat quickly recedes, revealing a full range of flavors.

Smells of fruit and earth. The taste is heavy peat, plums, and smoke. A long finish of peat and sweetness remains. The peat notes are more intense than I typically find in a Talisker; a superb profile.

Nice fresh sweet aroma, reminiscent of sandalwood. Salty vanilla sweetness, hints of caramel. Pleasant warm aftertaste.