hs305 scored this whisky 86 points

...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)...
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Young, a little immature with a clear "designed" spike towards herbal aromas (using the re-charring effects). Hey, what is great about this unless you are a herbalist?
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This is more mature with a nice combo of sweet sugars, spicy woods and a heavy herbal note, of course. Not utterly complex nor balanced but it is quite interesting to experience such a creation. Nevertheless, I do not ask for a second dram tonight. Some water turns the nose punchier and the taste more aggressive, too. More water takes out the punchiness but turns both nose and taste even more herbal hence one-dimensional. If you like herbs this is great, otherwise it is just boring...
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The mouthfeel is rather drying-astringent and it seems there are some virgin oak casks included as well (despite they did not state this - but they are not obliged to do so) or they de-charred the casks that completely that only virgin oak was left. The finish is long and very spicy (peppery) but again neither complex nor balanced. Sorry, I am not a herbalist.