Talisker 11 Year (2010), Douglas Laing for The Mash Tun Tokyo
Whisky: Talisker 11 Year (2010), Douglas Laing for The Mash Tun Tokyo
Country/Region: Scotland/Islands
ABV: 55.8%
Cask: Refill Hogshead
Age: 11 Years (Distilled Nov. 2010, Bottled Dec. 2021)
Nose: Mineral smoke, charred citrus rind, salty sea breeze, driftwood, metallic with dry grass and earth.
Palate: Medium-bodied, mildly oily, maritime and citrus, mineral smoke, driftwood and sea shells, toasted barley and cocoa powder.
Finish: Medium-length with barley tea, charred citrus, and muddled herbs.
Score: 7 (85)
Mental Image: Bonfire Cocktail Hour
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was oceanic, a maritime delight, with the salty mineral smoke of a beachside bonfire. Driftwood crackled as rusted iron grates suspended grilled clams and mussels just beyond the fire. Salty sea breezes came in with the scent of dried grass and subtle petrichor, while muddled mint and charred citrus lent the impression of a refreshing cocktail on the beach. Medium-bodied with a mild oily quality, the flavors were maritime and citrusy with a subtle earthiness at the end. Beach bonfire vibes ran throughout with mineral smoke, salt, driftwood, sea shells, grilled shellfish, and charred lemons. Toasted cereal grains and boricha, roasted barley tea, developed near the end with subtle dusty earth and unsweetened cocoa powder. Medium-length, the finish carried on with barley tea, charred citrus, and muddled herbs.
This Talisker left me absolutely certain that I need to be tasting more with a more restrained cask maturation. I have never been impressed with the Talisker core range— though a friendly Scot once suggested that Talisker was meant to be shot and followed up with a raw oyster. That was good advice that evening, and I thought the Talisker worked beautifully with the raw oysters, but I rarely get to enjoy my whisky with a bed of chilled, freshly shucked oysters.
I was close to saying wow with this one; I definitely mouthed it to myself with the first sip. This would have gone great with oysters if I had them handy, but the flavors were crystal clear and well-structured, so this was a beautiful malt to sip on. I loved the interplay between sea and land, as notions of dry earth and grass appeared after salt and minerals crested, with a lovely band of citrus connecting them. Additionally, the art was fantastic.
Overall, this was mighty impressive. A friend remarked that they thought Talisker shines at about 11 years, and based on this single example, I will be on the lookout for more.