Whiskybase

Talisker 2003

Overall rating
86.50/100
votes
298
Whiskybase ID
WB122031
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
The Distillers Edition
Vintage
2003
Bottled
2014
Casktype
Double Matured in Amoroso Cask Wood
Strength
45.8 % Vol.
Size
200 ml 700 ml 750 ml 1000 ml
Bottle code
TD-S: 5QC
Barcode
5000281013985
Added on
04 dec 2018 10:46 pm
ColoredChillfiltered
Talisker 2003
Photo by KayMeertens
Talisker 2003
Photo by Risco
Talisker 2003
Photo by JSW

Average value

€ 160.65

Found 4 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 113.28
hk Le Bon International LTD € 208.02
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Whisky Reviews for Talisker 2003

53 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 86.50 points

  1. schengel10 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    The Talisker Distillers Edition - also this year a very good single malt at a fair price!
    • Nose
      little smoke, dark berries, a lot of sherry;
    • Taste
      oily, elegant, oranges, caramel, sherry aromas, pepper, round and complex;
    • Finish
      very long, constantly warming, oily, buttery, in the end cocoa, vanilla;

  2. LDB scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Very tasty, but actually the first whisky that I found too woody.
    The smoke is aromatic, the fruit also comes in a great berry compote form, but somehow it doesn't stay round.
    I think the 10 year standard is better.
    ("Notes" from a whisky bar 2016)
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  3. mr.dave scored this whisky 80 points Expert Junior

    Way too much wood. Lacks aroma, complexity & the overall quality of earlier expression (I mean: way earlier ;-).

    Plus, the wood and the spirit doesn't blend very well.

    Overall rather poor.

    Talisker DEs from the 90s were offering decent quality for a decent price. Worth sipping on some random, average occasions. This doesn't give me any reason to miss-abuse alcohol. Wouldn't recommend it, won't buy it anymore (lesson learned) and won't finish the bottle.

    Feels rather generous to give it an 80. But I at least try to be objective, here..

  4. ovanpuyvelde scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  5. SilentBeing scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    The sherry maturation really suits the Talisker spirit wonderfully. Almost reminiscent of a good Glenfarclas, but the intense pepper and saltiness still makes it uniquely Talisker. A triumph.
    • Nose
      A classic Talisker maritime nose with plenty of peat, but more tangy and less briny than the 10 year old. A pleasant note of fresh fruit; plums, cherries, and a hint of banana.
    • Taste
      Very intense arrival with bitter oranges, raisins and intense peppery spiciness. The bitterness fades in the development leaving room for notes of candied orange peel, pineapple and a little honey.
    • Finish
      Long and warming with the trademark Talisker pepper and saltiness combining wonderfullly with the sweet and slightly bitter orange notes from the sherry casks. In the end the peat leaves a light grassy aftertaste.

  6. WhiskyPEATer scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      88 88

  7. MaltMartyr scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    This was a bargain priced Talisker DE, that may not have reached the pinnacle of the 1996, but was quite comforting and identifiable with its scent, taste, finish. It provides a classic taste and finish often and today more appreciated than the 10 y.o. Tali.
    • Nose
      90 90
      peat, Mr. Clean, citrus, granny smith apples, licorice, creosote, vanilla honey, maple syrup, waffles, apple sauce, toy rubber tires
    • Taste
      86 86
      vanilla, slight caramel, licorice, honey, peat, iodine bandages,
    • Finish
      87 87
      pepper, honey, licorice, peat, lingering finish pepper, smoke, peat, demerara sugar,

  8. martin_the_collector scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    Mega Whisky
    • Nose
      88 88
      crazy mix of smoke and sherry
    • Taste
      90 90
      Sweet and yet clear a Talisker with smoke and sharpness
    • Finish
      89 89
      long and pleasant

  9. rolabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  10. Andreas W. scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    This was also tried again as part of the Talisker re-tasting. In addition to the pleasant, light smoke and salt notes, thanks to the ripening, there are very tasty aromas of raisins and berries, complemented by a hint of orange and orange zest. The so-called "Chilli Catch" is also more noticeable here than with the normal 10 series. I like it well and is worth almost 87 WB points (86/88/86).
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  11. Alex Fridays scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Creosote, sea salt, dried fruits, dates, dust, furniture polish, cream and honey notes on nose.

    Creosote, spices, dried fruits, dust, oak cask, pepper notes on palate.

    Spices, vanilla, oak cask, dried fruits snd spicy notes on long finish. 

    This Talisker has a good balance between peated smoke and sweetness.

  12. dram-drinker scored this whisky 85 points Photo Moderator

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      83 83

  13. dram-drinker scored this whisky 85 points Photo Moderator

    Very good on the nose, quite soft on the palate - for a Talisker
    • Nose
      Intense, complex, sea breeze, nutty, honeydew, oak wood, hints of smoke and tobacco - very good
    • Taste
      Little punchy, oily, subtle sweetness, some fruitiness, nutty again, fine oak wood, little salty
    • Finish
      Medium long, warm, unfortunately no more smoke

  14. MadScientist scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      88 88

  15. drkrylov scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      95 95
    • Taste
      95 95
    • Finish
      95 95

  16. mer1973 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  17. Lorion scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Very good! The whisky inspires me. Probably the PLV winner par excellence. 87
    • Nose
      An enormously beautiful combination of smoke, sherry and sweetness. The smoke is clearly there at first, then disappears into the background. Later, he can only be guessed until he becomes clearer at some point. The sweetness is pleasant, not too strong. Various fruits are there, typical sherry flavors occasionally come through.
    • Taste
      Full and oily. Slightly smoky, sweet and fruity. Subtle ash. An appeal tobacco. Sweet oranges, caramel and malt in the dessert.
    • Finish
      Long, discreetly smoky. Sweet.

  18. OnkelBiff scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      87 87

  19. Ingwaz did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    Notes from a blind tasting. He tasted good to me, depending on the price, I would get me this filling possibly synonymous again.

    Since I know now what I have tasted and know the price (8/2017 - about 55 €) I think that you can definitely treat yourself!
    • Nose
      Here smells a lightly smoky campfire ignited by a bunch of matches, followed by subtle vanilla and light sweetness, for me there is a hint of very ripe pears or even dumplings (dried pears) in the background, in between I often have weak solvents Smell in the nose, which, however, does not stand out unpleasantly.
    • Taste
      Here I had a peppery onset, then briefly a little sweet vanilla which turns into block malt which is only very, very slightly sweet, sulfurized dried fruit, then smoked greasy.
    • Finish
      Tart chocolate, spicy, with a slightly contracting mouthfeel. Medium to long, which stays long but is very discreet.

  20. valery77 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      90 90

  21. Thermidor scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Has its moments but the overall roundness makes it lose some points. I'd expect Talisker to have an edge or two.

    Tasted next to current Talisker 10 (87 pts) and 57 North (84).
    • Nose
      Out of a lineup of Talisker 10, 57 North and this one, this is the odd man out by the nose. It's quiet compared to the others, but every now and then it noses like a strange simulacrum of >30yo peated whisky from Islay.  There's the normal Talisker profile rounded by sweet white dessert wine notes.
    • Taste
      Much like the Americans in Iraq, the entry is powerful even if the body's a little flabby, but it loses steam fast after that and things become disjointed. After the two other Taliskers it's like my tongue can feel the whisky split between the spirit and the finish. This is something I often find when I slip a finished peater among non-finished ones in a lineup. 
    • Finish
      Mostly dessert wine and tarry peat. It's not very long or powerful.

  22. LiquidThoughts scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Beautiful young Distillers Edition, the special sherry does it very well, round thing.
    • Nose
      Various berries, dried fruits with fine smoke, typical Talisker Maritimität behind it, sea salt, sweet from the Amoroso barrels, makes you want more
    • Taste
      Dry sweet, with sherry and sweet malt, wild berries, all slightly peated and a little salt and iodine, some pepper beautifully integrated, overall very drinkable for being so maritime, bitter almond, sherry again
    • Finish
      Medium to long with peat, sherry and some chocolate, nice elegant oak

  23. Hobbit did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    A delicious DE. The influence of the finish is noticeable compared to the 10s. It brings a nice complexity into play. I like it.
    • Nose
      typical Talisker character but not as intense as the 10yo, the flavors are creamier, dull, greasy, salt, burned plastic, soup vegetables, pepper, meringue damp seaweed, subtle sweetness pierces through, the sherry is clear, nuts, some chocolate, fruity berries, Malt, the smoke has now completely faded, salt remains behind. Pleasantly complex nose.
    • Taste
      very soft first before a softened chili joins, sweet sherry fruit, chocolate, a touch of raisins, to smoke, salt and pepper come back nuts (towards walnuts) and bitter almond
    • Finish
      bacon sweet, smoky, honey, milk chocolate, subtle oak, noticeable malt, less spicy but still a bit peppery, warming and long, great finish

  24. didi1893 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    The Talisker Distillers Editions are always a great treat. Sweetness, fruit, malt smoke and wood, everything that makes a Talisker is present. While I write my conclusion, the finish still exudes this pleasant sharpness. Gorgeous, a great whisky!
    • Nose
      A fine greasy smoke note rises immediately after pouring out of the glass. A pinch of salty sea air blows over the edge of the glass, adding a hint of peat and sweet malt. Orange peel and sweet fruit mix, the nose releases peppery pungency. The sweet and greasy smoke blends perfectly with the fruity aromas of the nose.
    • Taste
      The Talisker presents itself cool and slightly harsh at first. Suddenly a charge of pepper ignites in the mouth. Salt and black pepper from the tart wood. Sweet smoke and spicy wood play together, creating a slight campfire romance. After the first charge of pepper and pungency fades, intense walnut aroma comes to the fore.
    • Finish
      Slight heat and malty smoke dominate the finish. The walnut aroma is getting more intense and bitter. Sweetness, malt, spicy wood, smoke and, of course, sharpness will leave the finish in your memory for a long time.

  25. vojt466 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    It's a good drink, a lot of dense stamps of dried dark fruit and the typical elements of Talisker as they all know.
    • Nose
      Sweet smoky scent - wine, cocoa crackers, woody, dried dates, a little peat and spice
    • Taste
      First taste wine, then dried fruit, chocolate, salinity and typical talisker spice
    • Finish
      In reverberation, spiciness, a bit of woodiness, dried dates and peat

  26. elzAberino scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    The perfect blend of smoke, sweetness and spice - I like the DE of Talisker. The typical Talisker "chilli-catch" is only very discreet, belongs beside the 10yo and 18yo to the best of the distillery.
    • Nose
      Mild, sweet and warm smoky notes, slightly malty, honey, plums, sherry
    • Taste
      Slight bitterness, spicy, slightly smoky, salty, sherry, tasty
    • Finish
      Great finish, first sweet and tasty, but then becomes more and more dry and wizened, oak and sherry emphasize the end, coupled with chocolate.

  27. Marko_I did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    With 55 € still fairly priced, the Talisker DE (in general) also has its regular place in the whisky bar and goes well. Even if Talisker is not one of my private bottle candidates - from the DE, no matter what vintage, I like to drink one. These two are very similar, the 2005 overall looks a bit more robust, stronger, but if now after the tasting somebody would blindly give me one of both, I guess I can not say which one it is.
    • Nose
      Comparison 2003-14 vs 2005-15:
      in both mild smoke, velvety sharpness, a bit salty, in 2003 starts something stronger, peppery, then sweeter, honey, orange, a hint of wine gums, in 2005 towards the beginning milder, slightly fruity, then peppery sweet and the smoke stays longer
    • Taste
      in both the smoke is very cozy (lower Bowmore level), 2003 milder, creamier, more elegant, caramel slightly nut, later brown toast, white pepper, 2005 stronger, woodier, but also more sweetness, more pepper, chocolate
    • Finish
      medium length, chocolate, pepper at both, 2003 has rather a slightly fruity note (Gummibärchen), 2005 slightly more oak, spicy, bitter

  28. Archer scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  29. Archer scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    A great DE! Perfect addition to the 10yo.
    • Nose
      Fine, mild smoke on sherry. Nice maritime touch, salty. The smoke and sweetness of the Amoroso sherry barrel complement each other wonderfully.
    • Taste
      The notes from the nose are 1: 1 on the tongue again. Velvety full body. On the palate, the sherry comes into the background after a while without completely disappearing. A layer of sea salt lays on the tongue, with pepper. Smoke clothes the mouth. Vanilla comes, as well as malt and toffee sweets.
    • Finish
      Long and warm finish, smoldering peat fire.

  30. dRambo scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  31. ApricotOne scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      85 85

  32. Wolv scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    a nice scotch that provides a large scale of aromatic experiences
    • Nose
      sherry, raisins, barley, dried red and yellow fruits, honey, late harvest wine, petrol
    • Taste
      sweet and oily; barley, honey, pepper, spices, raisins, wax, petrol
    • Finish
      medium-long, nice warmth, peaty

  33. Wolv scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  34. zinaf scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Just puts a smile on my face. Perhaps my favourite DE of all distilleries.
    • Nose
      Gentle peat with touches of bacon and barbecue. Sweet undertones, perhaps dry fruits, mixed with slight nuttiness. There is a salty, briny side as well.
    • Taste
      Sweet arrival, with a slight peatiness and salty tang; It gets hotter (pepper) with time.
    • Finish
      Medium with fading sweetness, ashy peat, pepper and just a slight wooden dryness remains.

  35. PunxsutawneyPhil scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      89 89

  36. PunxsutawneyPhil scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A nice Talisker. I like the standard 10yo better, though. The sherry finish just hides too much of the tough, salty, sea character.
    • Nose
      Talisker saltiness, and then sweet red fruit notes, raisins, some peat, some oak, some orange notes
    • Taste
      Dark and salty red fruit and oranges, raisins, chocolat tones some peat, some oak,
    • Finish
      Medium long, only slightly drying, overripe red fruits, faint chocolate, salt and some peat. Quite good.

  37. NamorX68 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    very tasty Talisker with a very good PLV. Delicious!!
    • Nose
      sweet and fruity, orange, very nice sherry, campfire smoke, maritime notes, salt, sea.
    • Taste
      sweet and strong, peppery, salty, churches, grapes and again campfire smoke. Dark chocolate.
    • Finish
      Medium long, a little dry.

  38. drkrylov scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    Full-bodied and wonderful rich.
    • Nose
      Toffee, bitter chocolate, and toasted nuts, with late salt and pepper.
    • Taste
      Toffeeish, then toasty. The richness of these flavours introduces a shock of contrast when the seaweed and pepper suddenly burst through.
    • Finish
      Powerful salt and pepper.

  39. drkrylov scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      100 100
    • Taste
      100 100
    • Finish
      90 90

  40. pelle86 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      88 88

  41. Dyno scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    little edit after a grand blind tasting of 35 bottles... anno 2019-2020, see whisky mystery - Captain 3D to get an idea.

    scored it an 87, but given the price i will keep my original score of 88. Great value for money these Talisker distillers' editions!
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      89 89

  42. Dalm did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Aroma: fruity sweet, salty, ginger, smoke in the background
    Taste: dry, malt, smoke, spicy, pepper, sherry
    Finish: long, ginger, peat smoke

  43. maltaholic scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    The note is already stunning. Fine smoke, delicate sherry. Round taste, nothing bothers, nothing tastes good. A perfect harmony between oak, sherry, peat smoke, spices and fruits. Long, pleasant finish. Fits well at Christmas time!

  44. Shane_IL scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Nose a lot more complex than the rest of the experience, a pity.
    • Nose
      Very sweet. Vanilla cream. Banana liquor. Red fruits. Roasted something sweet. Thick wine tannins. Turkish delight. 
    • Taste
      A bit flat. Charcoal. Salmon. Salt. Dry wood. Sherry funk. 
    • Finish
      Medium. Dry wood. Char. Cough syrup. Figs.

  45. Joschbert scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      82 82

  46. Mr.Edradour scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      85 85

  47. Jon Osterman scored this whisky 87 points Member Junior

    At first, this was noticeably different from the Talisker 10, but the overt sherry-ness seems to have burned off a few glasses into the bottle.  A pleasant spin on the 10, even though it ended up not seeming that different to me.  Enjoyable, to be sure.
    • Nose
      Familiar Talisker toffee and (tropical or mangoes?) fruit, and a subtle smoke that has a slight barbecue-like char to it.  Subtly different from the 10 y.o., in a good way, I think.
    • Taste
      Toffee/fruit sweetness, very similar to the 10 to me...
    • Finish
      Taste follows through into the finish, with that barbecue-like smoke bringing up the rear

  48. Maczet scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  49. Tomh scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    Delicious nose, in the taste less peat than the nose does expect. with water sweeter, more red fruit. Tasted during NaT in Wijchen.

  50. irrerelevant scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    nose Suzuussen, light smoke, maritime, salty, vanilla, the Amarone is very sweet and clear, slightly sprittig, little oak, pepper, maybe licorice, I miss something "substance" , reminds me of Bowmore
    taste This sweetness dominates first in the mouth, sweet berries (maybe blueberry) and spice, first quite soft, smoke is there, but not in the foreground, maritime, then disappears the sweetness and it remains the peppery Brennereicharakter
    leaving Heckraus me the distilling character somehow "bites" sweetness is still there in a start, I do not think barrel, unpleasant bitter, quite dry and inharmonious
    The sweet onset with smoke I like, the nose was nice, behind the back I find it but not convincing ... comes over me with sweet wine over showered, I do not like so much

  51. GuyIncognito scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Tastes very good and wins with a few drops of water once again clearly in depth
    • Nose
      Beautiful salt nose with earthy notes, smoke is rather hidden, a subtle sweetness hides behind the earthy aromas
    • Taste
      Full mouthfeel with the slight sharpness and much more sweetness than the nose would suggest, here comes now the Sherryfassreifung through. At the second sip, I finally have the smoke that I had missed so far
    • Finish
      light woody spiciness, the sherry sweetness comes through very clearly in connection with a dry feeling on the tongue, long warming finish

  52. KayMeertens scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Perhaps a little less spicy than its predecessor, but apart from that they're very much alike. It doesn't have the nuttiness from the 2001 though.86/87.
    • Nose
      Raspberry, cranberry, peat, toffee, orange and a little malt.
    • Taste
      Peat, chocolate brownie and pepper. The fruity notes which are so apparent in the nose stay more in the background in the taste.
    • Finish
      Peat, dark chocolate and gingerbread.

  53. Dionysus scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

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