Talisker New Make Spirit

Talisker does not commercialise its new make. I was able to score this via… sorry, no names as per request. But at 70.5% ABV this comes straight from the still, even before diluting it to go into the cask. To reiterate: I love new make, so this is another one off the bucket list. It was distilled in the summer of 2018.

Wonderfully clean nose that shows all the classic characteristics of a new make (cooked vegetables, milled grain, yeast), but immediately throws in quite a few others. I already get a lovely spiciness, quite some salt, some earthy notes and something that reminds me of dried cow pat (this is not an off note!). There is even a fresh element that I can compare best with a mint mixed with some liquorice candy.

Oh, what a gentle arrival… warm, sure, doh! But with such an ABV you would think your mouth would be aflame, but that is not the case. It is very soft and oily and full and round and… I could go on. Flabbergasted. Salty and sweet at the same time, with lots of earthy notes, some plant roots and white pepper. Flowery and spicy go hand in hand here. Lovely. What I like most is that Talisker is actually quite recognizable.

The finish continues on the same – the spiciness becomes grand – and fades very slowly.

Oh, boy, this one just dived into my personal top three of new makes. No wonder Talisker creates such great whisky. It all starts with this lovely base product. Thanks, A.D.!

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