Color: Warm gold.
Nose: Unreduced, a quiet nose, not hugely assertive, yet quite maritime. Fresh ship’s varnish. Faint nose prickle. Spicy, briny, with distant smoke.
Body: Smooth and firm in body.
Palate: At bottled strength, a gentle start, immediately building in intensity. Slow and sweet, then kicks in peppery and hot, with significant balancing bitterness and salt, and a little smoke.
Finish: Long, warming, slightly bitter and very drying, with a little smokiness.
"Comes across initially to me as reserved, perhaps even elegant for a Talisker. Soothing too, with an oily texture. Quite fruity (orange, tangerine, apricot), perhaps even floral, with a delicate pastry sweetness. Then the more traditional Talisker notes kick in -- brine, seaweed, warming pepper -- repeated in the finish. A high-quality Talisker; albeit a bit reserved at times. I love the oily, viscous texture." -John Hansell, Whisky Advocate Spring 2010">