Talisker 25 y.o (2006 Bot.)

This is one of the older bottlings of the 25 year old, back when they were still cask strength...

Nose: Fruitier than I expected - quince, plum and some apricot, sitting atop notes of bourbon vanilla and very subtle peat. Soft coastal hints in the background too (oysters?), even some waxiness. Beautifully complex.

Palate: Salty - with liquorice, lemon and cloves. The peat is present but understated. There is some pepper, dark chocolate & spice. It takes a while for the fruit promised by the nose to appear. This is a big whisky, but gentle.

Finish: Long, salty, spicy and slightly fruity. Slightly less interesting than what preceded, some how, but it's a minor gripe.

An real high class Talisker - less assertive than I expected (peat & maritime notes have really been smoothed out by 25 years in the dunnage house), but in return you get a wonderfully balanced and uniquely interesting Scotch.

A word of warning however - those expecting an older version of the 18 year old should look elsewhere.

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