Talisker Friends of the Classic Malts

Ah Talisker. Normally, with a malt, I try to let it open up in the glass, let my taste buds adjust, and add a few drops of water to balance it. No need for that effort with Talisker – you just open the bottle or sample and drink it, and it's almost always great as is! This one is no exception. Despite some of the mediocre non-age-statement releases they produce, this is almost on par with Springbank for me as my top distillery. This serving is excellent. It's a bottling of 12-year-old Talisker single malt that has undergone triple maturation. It was initially aged in refill casks, then moved to charred American oak hogsheads, and finally matured in European oak refill casks. It was released exclusively for Diageo's Friends of the Classic Malts online society several years ago, and I managed to get a private bottle sample a while back. I'd describe it as a slightly sweeter, smoother, and more refined higher-strength 10-year-old Talisker. Easily 4.25 to 4.5. Lovely creamy, brine-like peppery flavor. The aftertaste is a bit flat/off, but that's the only fault I can find.