Talisker 25 Year Old Bot 2005

sample from a friend

Nose: Ah, vibrant and very lively. An acoustic guitar solo (these things happen, right?) at a show on the coast. Baseline of the coastal salt, pebbles, stony sand, and seaweedy peat. A full dose of fruit, leading with mango near the flesh, tangerine, soft orange, and clementines. You see where this is going. Very tropical. Teaspoon of coconut oil and even cumin with vanilla. (with water) Turns more sharply to oranges and lemon, sawdust, and sandalwood. Perhaps even a touch of cake frosting. Very nice, even if only a touch simple now.

Palate: More on oil, flinty vanilla, medium and gentle peat. Far more linear here than on the nose. Almost a funky oak note, too. It's an interesting combo of sweet, sour, and bitter. (with water) Oil, salt, loads of fine cigar ash, some petrol, and a light coastal element, and the sour note has vanished.

Finish: More on vanilla and a light mix of the other notes. Sadly straightforward here. A really lovely dram, but not as rich or complex as I'd have hoped. It was better neat, and still fabulously approachable. Lovely fruit on the nose, and pleasant on the palate.

Find where to buy Talisker whisky