solo tasting: Talisker 175th Anniversary Edition...

Talisker 175th Anniversary Edition (45.8%): This Talisker expression got released in 2005 to celebrate 175th year of the distillery. There is no age statement on the bottle but I found out that the batch is a vat of different ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks aged between ten and twenty-five years. Although Diageo marketed it as a "limited edition" it's a release of 60,000 bottles and therefore you still can find it pretty easily even seven years after it's launch. Anyway I am glad that I have it on my shelf and very excited to taste it. After all Talisker with Laphroaig are the two brands started my whisky obsession years ago. Color: One hell of a good looking bottle... Very handsome. The whisky shines bright copper. A beautiful amber color in the glass. Nose: Sea spray and wet sand on a cold Fall morning at the beach. Overripe apples, strawberry, raisins, dried black currants, cinnamon and nutmeg. Antique, dusty furniture shop. Where is the peat by the way? I can nose some distant smoke but more like from a propane camp stove fire. A few drops of water brings out sweet notes like vanilla, honey, cookie dough and decayed grapes. Palate: Here is the peat..! Still very gentle though. Sweet upside down apple skillet cake, burnt brown sugar and white pepper. I can taste old sherry casks here. Adding water pulls out all the young whisky in the vat to the surface. Sea salt, black pepper, olive brine and salted bonito. Finish: Long, salty, with heavily charred wood. Caramelized apricots and peaches. Overall: This is an incredibly easy drinking and fruity Talisker. Much more gentle than 10 year old. Pretty different. Old casks add an amazing depth to the whisky. Very enjoyable...

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