Whisky: Talisker 27 Year (1985), Diageo Special Release 2013

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 56.1%

Cask: Oak

Age: 27 Year (Distilled 1985, Bottled 2013)

Nose: Woody and maritime with subtle spice. The chop and crash of stormy seas pounded outside while a low wood-burning stove kept us cozy and warm with the intermingling scents of pine smoke, dried florals, and herbs. A mellow grassiness emerged with clean straw, tobacco, and old oak while white pepper and cracked black pepper poked out from time to time. The wife thought the nose sweeter, more like salted caramel.

Palate: Medium-bodied with brine, pepper, and fruit. Oily and bright with dried apple, grapefruit, and orange rind. Preserved fruits and salted biscuit with apricot jam, mango chutney, cassia bark, and black pepper. A mellow salinity threaded between fruit, cracked pepper, and musty pipe tobacco, which lingered through on the finish. The wife described the fruity, slightly bitter finish as akin to treacle or burnt caramel apple.

Finish:  Lingering notes of fruit preserves and slightly bitter tobacco.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Halocline Themed Pipe Shop

Notes: I saved this dram for an evening when my wife wanted to join me for some scotch reviews. I thought it would suit her and be something special with which to celebrate. She was not a fan. "Burnt salted caramel apples" was how she described the experience; it was too sweet, too subtle, and a tad too bitter on the finish for her taste. Sadly, the next dram I poured for her that evening was no better, but we eventually found something for her to enjoy.

I found this very similar to the 25 Year Talisker I reviewed last year. It had loads of similar flavor notes and the same light, albeit flavor-packed, body. I enjoyed that 25 Year and thought it was one of the better official distillery releases in the premium age statement category I have tried. This 27 Year had even better structure and more depth, so I scored it a bit higher, but— and I realize this undermines my made-up scoring scale— I would rather drink the 25 Year most evenings. It was a tad more straightforward, but the individual flavor notes were more apparent and discernible.

Overall, a delightfully tame and mature Talisker with just a hint of the peppery profile I typically associate with the distillery. Soft maritime notes appeared in abundance, and, though I enjoyed the contrast between the initial hit of sweet fruits and slightly bitter finish, I found that transition also left the dram feeling less cohesive at times. However, those were quibbles, and this would make for a fine celebratory bottle.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer