[October, 2018] Good old Serge scored this dram 91 points what is very high by his own standards (e.g., he scored the 50-years old Talisker WB id 10138 just one point higher). This is truly astonishing so I bought a tasting dram at the distillery today and guess what…

...I can not comprehend any of his tasting comments. According to my taste buds (that are different to that of Serge, of course) this is a modern "designed" whisky that goes for a few cheap thrills (the charring effects) but lacks complexity and excellence completely. It shows too much wood influence (bitter-astringent feelings in both the mouthfeel and finish) and a rather unimpressive nose. No, it is not bad for a 8-years old (compared to other 8-years old whiskies) but by no means it is on eye-level with older drams of 90+ points...

Obviously (and thanks to the whisky gods) there is no accounting for taste - so beware all you whisky newbies and value-seekers: Your taste buds (like that of the majority of all drinkers) are for sure different to the taste buds of the so-called experts so do not follow them like a lemming does but rather build your own taste - what provides significantly more whisky-fun, too!

By the way, I scored the 50-years old Talisker (distilled in 1955) 96 points and in my honest opinion this ten points difference is more than justified...

[December, 2018] I re-tasted this dram tonight after several older 90+points whiskies and again it does not impress me at all. After such a setting I score this even lower than 86 points (but I leave it as it is)...

Only trust your own taste - it reminds me very much of a young Lagavulin. Very drinkable and enjoyable in my mind.
I can enjoy this one the same way as I can enjoy the Talisker 1955 50yo (Cask 1312).

Well ... well, but that's not the big deal. The alcohol is very well integrated, one notices from the nearly 60% not so much. And it is also "interesting" to have a potentially powerful 8yo OA Talisker in the glass. But a bit more variety of flavors could have been expected even with a 8yo. Then the quite ambitious price comes along ... But well, you do not have to talk about him worse than he is. Quite a decent whisky, but maybe they expected a bit more from Talisker.
Note: Once opened, it benefits from oxygen exchange. It's worth having a long breath.

Have a bottle on loan from by brother. Glad I didn't purchase any. This review is based on my second dram from this opened bottle of 3 weeks. It's okay, but I've had much better for less money. My brother over spent on this bottle $113.00cnd. Yes it's limited edition, and it's cask strength, but the quality/value is not there! For $25cnd more I'd rather have an Octomore. ;-)

N- The easiest to pick up from this set of four. Fiery, husky and spicy, burnt rock, mineral with liquorice peardrop. Well intercepted with meaty and soft sulphur side that always melt my heart. Lots of juggling feint and fruity notes in the mix with hefty strength, maintaining balance on an edgy cliff or fall into the abyss cloys. Complex sweet notes of wood ash infused vanilla, smoked port soaked berries and wheat-grass, as well the nervous sweaty notes of yeasty, dried leave and gym shoes lurking. But as I felt, the juggling stunt executed skillfully this time. (93/23)

P- Superb weighty mouthfeel that packed with zest, more spicy sweet peardrop and subtle layer of sea salt before vanilla, cranberry arrived and check out with a hint of buttery floral and peat nuance. Solid. (93/23)

F- Long, nutty, salted almond and salted oatmeal with seaweed, lasting oak smokes with the classic umami sweetness. (89/22)

B/B- 93/23. The most balanced of the four.

Cr- 3, Fr- 3, Fl- 1, Pt- 2, Ft- 2, Sp- 1, Wd-3, Wn-2, Sc-3

Weighted Rate- 91pt. Superb quality/value.