Talisker 08-year-old

Overall rating: 88.10/100
votes: 411

Category: Single Malt
Distillery: Talisker
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie: Special Release 2018
Vintage: 2009
Bottled: 2018
Stated Age: 08 years old
Casktype: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads
Number of bottles: 4680
Strength: 59.4 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml
Bottle code: L8071CM001
Barcode: 5000281051741
Added on: 01 Sep 2018 11:35 am by thebase

Average value

€ 133,14

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Whisky Reviews for Talisker 08-year-old

59 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 88.10 points

hs305 scored this whisky 86 points
13 Oct 2018 12:57 am
[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)...

Nose

85 85

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?

Taste

88 88

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...

Finish

86 86

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.
checkpointuk scored this whisky 89 points
15 Feb 2019 8:41 am

https://kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=349
Colour:
Pale gold
Nose:
Extremely smoky-maritime, young and absolutely atypical for the Skye-Malt! The smoke is accompanied by sweet and fruity aromas, along with BBQ, ham, marinated meat, pepper, sea salt and hints of black powder. The fruity yellow-green aromas tend to run in the background.
Taste:
Gentle start but immediately sharper, spicy and powerful. Chili, paprika, cayenne pepper and more and more salt. Ultra spicy, maritime and spicy. The black powder notes develop more and more. Fruity green, with lime, soft grapefruit and green apple; but without a chance to be in the foreground.
Finish:
Long - the alcoholic pungency goes away, the maritime salt remains and green notes, some wood, corrugated cardboard, slightly bitter herbs and olives characterize the finish.
Comment:
The taste is overcrowded with sharpness, alcohol and spice, so that unfortunately all other notes are somewhat covered. Nevertheless, he likes us very well!
89 points
N: 89P / G: 88P / F: 89P
hs305 scored this whisky 86 points
28 Oct 2018 8:49 pm

By the way - I guess that because of the success of the first batch of this Talisker 8-years old Diageo will release a second batch by the end of November. In that case I will re-taste this second batch and compare it to the first one - with the Lagavulin 8-years old (released around the 200th anniversary of Lagavulin) this was a 2-3 points difference according to my taste buds (in favour of the original first batch). We will see what it will be with this Talisker, finally...
dram-drinker scored this whisky 90 points
20 Oct 2018 4:28 pm
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).

Nose

90 90

Very fresh, intense seabreeze, salty, iodine, seaweedy, citric, honey notes, whiffs of oak wood - very good

Taste

91 91

Oily, creamy, sirupy, fruity, peaches, bananas, apricots, hints of plums too, pretty sweet but matches the fruitiness, quite some peat and smoke, oak wood - great

Finish

89 89

Long, warm, zesty, a bit tannic but still enough sweetness
markjedi1 scored this whisky 86 points
28 Oct 2018 8:31 am

Copyright

Talisker remains very popular. And while this one is fairly young with its 8 years on first fill bourbon hogsheads (and not cheap with a price tag of 85 EUR), I’m sure it will fly off the shelves. But rightfully so, for this is a textbook Talisker and that is always good news.

The first thing that jumps out on the nose is the characteristic pepper on which Talisker seems to have a copyright. But the sea and some soft smoke are also represented. The difference with the classic Talisker? The fruit. I get some melon and mandarin next to some breakfast cereal. But oh, so good! And the fact that it is bottled a such a high ABV is a big plus. Powerful!

Ka-boom! A very feisty kick to the teeth! The ABV surely lets itself be felt. Yet I do not feel inclined to add water. Very sweet – more than I am used to from Talisker. Must be the first fill casks. Some nuts, a lot of citrus, some cereal and loads of pepper.

The finish, however, is very soft with a lot of sweetness and even some menthol at the death.

Yup, these will sell like cupcakes, but righfully so. Very good Talisker. Do not hesitate.
Archer scored this whisky 87 points
05 Oct 2018 11:35 pm
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.

Nose

87 87

It takes a while for it to release aromas. A little life in the glass does him good, I still want to avoid water. After a while, the fruits come: melon, mandarin, green apple. Add a pinch of pepper, so that the nose does not turn out too fruity.

Taste

87 87

On the tongue with a good portion of espresso powder and pepper. Gives neat tinder in the mouth without burning. Even undiluted to tolerate very well, alcohol well integrated. When it comes to the variety of flavors, it also lingers a bit on the tongue. In addition to the espresso powder nougat and marzipan, honey, a few bright fruits (in the direction of pear).

Finish

86 86

Medium to short, with pear compote, pepper, Werther's real and a good shot of honey.
asiadog scored this whisky 91 points
20 Nov 2018 6:29 pm

I had the pleasure to taste various Talisker last week. All the standard 10 years of the past. Two 25 years, a 10 year for FOCM
and the 8 year. The 8 year was amazingly good. And was one of my favourites this evening. I didn't know the rating of Serge untill today but I will give it 91 easily. I could get two bottles which I will open on a special occasion. Slainte everybody.
jocmueller scored this whisky 87 points
19 Oct 2018 7:06 pm

Color: Gold with fat oily legs

Nose: You notice this part of the alcohol strength directly, the 59.4% creep up a nose, after a few minutes in the glass, the alcohol is a bit "verwabert" and more aromas rise in the nose, the first association is white pepper as well as a surprising medical note (almost in the direction of the old Laphroaigs) of the Talisker of the last few years, it is joined by some vanilla, which becomes stronger and stronger, all wrapped up in a pleasant smoke.

Mouth: Strong onset, of course owed to the alcohol, which also stimulates the salivary flow here, slightly bitter (but not unpleasant) with a pepper sharpness, the Talisker the last few years but something goes slowly, a sweetness comes to the fore, paired with I find Talisker to have a lot of "peat", while giving himself a nice oily palate.

Finish: Slightly sweeter, while remaining slightly bitter, the pepper sharpness remains here until the end, the smoke flavor is also still present, pleasant length of the finish (strong mid-length).

With water: a little more pleasing, sweeter, but I quickly get too watery, because I prefer the cask strength or maybe a few drops.

Conclusion: For the original issue price of approx. 65 EUR quite a purchase value for Genrefans, priced moves it is about the level of the annual Laphroaig 10yo CS, but in the end but (usually) a bit more offers, no fireworks of flavors, but for 8 years amazingly "ripe" and delicious ,
Andytka3 scored this whisky 91 points
30 Jun 2019 11:55 pm
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.

Nose

N- 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)

Taste

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)

Finish

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

B/B- 93/23.

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

Weighted Rate- 91pt. Superb quality/value.
spigray scored this whisky 93 points
13 Oct 2018 1:50 pm
Let me say in a few words: This whisky is a hammer! Get it while you can. It´s the power and boldness of the whisky that blew me away. For me this was the best stuff I tasted for a long time. Don´t expect an over-complex whisky!

Nose

92 92

First of all: wonderful presentation imho!
oh yes; wonderfully old school! doesn´t nose young at all!
The distillery character is obvious with gentle smoke and hints of shoepolish which is to vanish very quickly. pepper and a smell of german cooking gingercakes my granny used to buy to add them to sauces.. we have also got ointments, linseed oil, brine and some lemons in
the background.
with water: the lemons are getting a little louder and I´m getting some sap.
The charring has done a great job on these bourbon barrels! This smells much older than 8 years, had I guessed I would have said between 16 and 18 years.

Taste

93 93

neat (may God protect me!): Oh my God is this good! You only need a drop and it coats your mouth completely with the nicest Talisker flavour. Malt and honey, pepper and ginger. A BIG whisky!
with water: a little brighter but still a monster of a whisky.
caramel and salt. very spicy.

Finish

93 93

the finish seems to be endless while the pepper gets milder.

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