Talisker 2000 Distillers Edition

I last reviewed an Old Malt Cask Talisker 10 Year Old; and our second Talisker is the 2000 Distiller's Edition. This was bottled in 2011 and is finished in Jerez Amoroso casks. While I was in Scotland I was fortunate enough to try the 2012 DE bottling - I'm sure it will be on our shores soon.

The colour is a quite dark gold, almost brown. The nose features a light gentle peat off the top, with rum-soaked raisins, oranges, grape and linseed oil. Cinnamon apple pie. Very nicely sherried nose. You get the wood but it's not overly oaky at all. Zings with hot pepper. Water brings out a citrus maltiness. Classic.

The palate is luscious, with more grape, apple pie, and dark fruits. The pepper is still hot and dances along the gentle peat smoke. Dark honey. Beautiful sherry notes here. Water brightens it up a bit - absolutely wonderful, with a lovely mouth-drying effect.

The finish is deep and rich, the oranges come back with more rum raisin, with perhaps the faintest hint of sulphur right at the end. Still, this is a terrific Talisker, better than the 2012 bottling I tasted in Scotland. Compared to the OMC 10yo, it is smoother and richer while still retaining that peppery Talisker spirit. This won Best Islands Single Malt at the 2013 World Whiskies Awards. And oh - but wait! I know have a "half Talisker" to review next time - so re-title this series to "Talisker x 2.5"

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