Peatier than the 10yo OB in the glass next to it. More straightforward and youthful, but the sea salt and pepper that mark a Talisker are around. There is some oak of the plankish sort. I feel the nose loses some of its definition with water, but the palate and body come nicely together at one or two teaspoons. With water out comes some gunpowder as well. The taste is peaty and honeyed but slightly hollow. In the finish the youth shows again, as peat lingers and sinks into my tongue and gums, but otherwise there is very little action apart from slight oiliness and a faint taste of sand. Let me guess, this is 5,7 years old? 

Tasted next to OB 10yo (87pts) and 2003 Distillers Edition (85). A big up to whomever had the good idea to make a 3x20cl pack of these malts. I'm at a stage in this hobby where I no longer care to buy full bottles of most entry level OBs (there's only so much time for whisky, and so _much_ whisky around), so these little bottles are much appreciated as I can still keep tabs with what's going on at that price range without having to stock much more whisky than I can or want to drink. Hey Laphroaig, make a tri-pack of 10yo, QC and Cask Str.!

Tasting Notes by producer;

in brief… All of Talisker’s full-on vigour, with the promise of wisdom to come. In a sentence… A classic, intense Talisker that’s like looking out to sea with a storm brewing, and which becomes deeper and more approachable when water is added.

Nose:
Very clean and intense, with light smoke soon appearing. Creamy toffee, with pronounced fruit acidity. Hints of edible seaweed, heather blossom and a calming influence of vanilla that balances the crisp attack. Chalky and minty. In time, chocolate, then salt. The chocolate becomes slightly nuttier: like praline. Water tempers the attack and brings out a slightly oily note. Initially there's a firework/struck match edge, then more seaweed, as if you’re at the high water mark on a sandy beach. Sweet yet salty, with a savoury sharpness.

Palate:
Tart fruit, sweet to start, with smoke and tar abruptly exploding around the middle of the mouth. Sweet-centred, a little like liqueur chocolate, yet tempered by a savoury edge that stops things becoming too polite. Water deepens the effect and smoothes out the abrupt shift between sweet and smoke. Mouth filling, silky and complex.

Finish
Oily, tingling with the signature pepperiness. Smoother with water.