Talisker Distillers Edition 2016 45.8% nv

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (86)

As usual, this one was finished in Amoroso wood, so flavoured with sweetish sherry. Kind of. This one I’m not following every year. Colour: gold. Nose: perhaps I should? Very nice whiffs of oysters and fresh kelp, then gherkin brine and cigarette smoke. Hints of cucumber, autumn leaves, and fresh mushrooms. I don’t seem to find any raisins this time, not bad news if you ask me. Mouth: I’ll say it, I’m finding this baby very good. Much more refined and elegant than the trumpeting Dark Storm, and again, not over-raisined (like, say all those unlikely PX finishes from other makers’ that are invading our shelves). So, good, with mild pepper, a little walnut liqueur, a little soot, wax, seaweed, brine, and liquorice. Finish: medium, salty, and slightly cake-y. Comments: after all those years, they know how to make finishes that work and that do not become unbalanced (and, as they say on Facebook, a little ‘WTF?’).

Words of Whisky (86)

Nose: similar, but with a slightly more acrid nose. Sour berries and more briney touches, perhaps more iodine too. It seems smokier, but then again it’s probably because the dark chocolate layer and the cherries are far less obvious. Overall a bit thinner, but not a very dramatic change. Mouth: again a little acrid and fizzy. Menthol, a few metallic notes. Seaweed, berries, grapefruit and bitter oranges, with just a hint of carbolic soap. Black tea. Clove. Minty notes. Finish: not too long, with citrusy smoke and pepper.
It seems this one is slightly thinner and more citrus-driven. The quality is very much on the same level though, it will come down to personal preferences.