One of the Special Releases 2019 that got me excited was this Talisker 15 Year Old, the first time this is seen as an official release of this age. It’s a 2002 vintage matured in freshly charred American oak hogsheads, bottled at natural strength.
Talisker 15 yo 2002
(57,3%, OB ‘Special Releases’ 2019, freshly charred American oak hogsheads)
Nose: rather bright and mellow at first, with some banana cake and stewed apples, smoked peach and iodine. A little wax and vanilla. Rather summery and blossomy, but not too soft. Light chilli and cinnamon.
Mouth: quite powerful, more of the trademark (green) pepper and ashy smoke now. Apples and cinnamon, raisins, maybe charred pineapple and honey. Salty notes as well, with more iodine and seaweed than I was expecting. Bitter almonds and herbs.
Finish: long, with earthy spice, mint and wood smoke.
This starts with a nice mix of fruits and coastal notes on the nose. On the palate it’s quite peppery and again quite coastal. A punchy Talisker, slightly deeper and spicier than most. Available from The Whisky Exchange or Master of Malt among others.
Score: 88/100