Taster

Nose: Fragrant, slow developing, complex nose: heather blossom, malt toast, hearth. Scented and slightly herbal: elegant and powerful at the same time.

Palate: Excellent texture and mouthfeel mixing rich oily malt with gentle fruit and all-embracing peat smoke. It has an elegant muscularity.

Finish: Long, smoky.

Comment: Amazingly little wood impact for a whisky of this age. Not the most robust Talisker but a cracker nonetheless.

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: By the shore undoubtedly. Fishing net. Seaweed bonfire. Tangerine. Vanilla.

Palate: Robust. Neat and open. Malty. Peaty. A lot to tell.

Finish: Pepper breaks through a veil of smoke. Totally Talisker.

Comment: More medicinal than other versions. If matched with oysters, add barbecued sausages as the French do in Marennes-Oléron.

Score: 8.5