Whisky: Talisker 8 Year 2020 Special Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 57.9%

Cask: Rum Cask

Age: 8 Year

Nose: Sea, cream, and tropical fruit. A bowl of yogurt laden with mango, banana, and lychee called to mind tropical mornings with the scent of Morning glories, plumeria, and sweet florals. Salty air blew in on a cool breeze with freshly lit charcoal bricks promising an afternoon barbecue.

Palate: Medium-bodied and quite oily with fruit, sea, and spice notes. Green banana and blue vanilla, the dram brought to mind shave ice and tropical sugar syrups— hints of salted, pickled plum with lime and mango. Ash and charcoal notes hung on the back palate and gave this a slightly acrid ending with menthol and green apple.

Finish: Lingering ash, pepper, and hints of fruit.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Breakfast on the Beach

Notes: I was surprised just how much the rum influence stood out on this Diageo special release from 2020. The cask endowed this Talisker a much deeper, fruitier profile than one typically finds among the typical coastal citrus. The classic pepper spice was still present but mainly appeared as a finale through to the finish as maritime notes and pepper sat on the palate.

While this was not the most complex dram, it was a tasty and bold affair. The flavors popped, and the sweet tropical fruits that hit the palate first contrasted nicely against the slightly acrid notes near the end. The viscosity on this was excellent, and I enjoyed the weight of the dram on the palate. It had a real presence throughout. 

Overall, a lovely Talisker with an interesting rum influence. I probably will not be running out to try more rum finished Talisker— I'm not too fond of the estery fruit notes, especially bananas,— but I love it when the Diageo special releases showcase a new side of a distillery and give us something unexpected (looking at you peated Cragganmore).

Image Credit: Whisky Foundation