Talisker x Parley Wilder Seas & Old Malt Cask Talisker 11yo cask #19722

Today’s reviews focus on Talisker, a distillery we wish we had more opportunities to explore.

With the addition of water, the whisky loses much of its smokiness but retains a slight earthiness. The profile shifts to include more peanut butter, lime, Schloer, beef, and butter. However, it has become tighter, or perhaps it’d be more accurate to say one-dimensional, with the dilution.

Palate (with water)

With dilution, the whisky reveals notes of dirty water, gingerbread, saline solution, and cracked black pepper. The mouthfeel becomes very thin, but the spice is less dominant in the finish. Additional notes of ash and a more pronounced bitterness from grapefruit emerge, complemented by touches of lavender and hibiscus.

Conclusion

On the plus side, this whisky is easy to drink. However, on the downside, it still tastes somewhat young and lacks any truly interesting aromas or flavors that make us want to have more than a dram.

Score: 6/10

Value

You could find a comparable whisky for less money or something more interesting at the same price point.

Old Malt Cask Talisker 11yo cask #19722

Region: Highlands

ABV: 50.0%

Price: £170.00

This bottling was distilled on August 2011 and left to mature in a refill Sherry butt until October 2022, at which point it was bottled at 50%, in a release of 431 bottles.

Nose

Initially, the nose is subdued, but patience rewards us, offering notes of dates, caramel, toffee, and light peat smoke. For us theres a greater cask influence than we anticipated. On revisiting, aromas of banoffee pie, warehouse must, a slight sour note, sea breeze, and some burnt brown sugar become apparent. Nice, but we probably wouldn’t have said this was Talisker.

Palate

The whisky initially presents notes of honey, ash, and cola cubes, with a better mouthfeel than expected, though ideally, it would have been released at cask strength. Moving to the finish flavours of sweet chili, cardamom, and cumin appear, while the honey sweetness also lingers. All fading to some white pepper spice. While it lacks some of the Talisker DNA we were hoping for, it’s a pleasant enough dram.

Nose (with water)

With a few drops of water the dominant notes become caramelized brown sugar, Cadbury milk chocolate, and a hint of ashy peat. Similar to the undiluted nose, there isn’t much that distinctly screams Talisker.

Palate (with water)

Diluted the expected Sherry notes quickly give way to burnt coffee that dominates the finish, accompanied by some residual ash. The profile has become spicier, and the mouthfeel has diminished. On the positive side the finish retains its good length. Similar to today's other review, adding water has rendered it somewhat one-dimensional.

Conclusion