Talisker 11 Year Old (Special Release 2022) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Other reviews... Gentle aromatic spices, salty smoke, beach bonfires, and a hint of peppermint. There’s a lot of complexity in the spices here, and the balance is well-judged. The palate is rich and full-bodied with lemon, caramel, vanilla, tangerine peel, and peat smoke, then elements of oak char, bourbon biscuit, and grapefruit peel. A few drops of water work well. The finish starts creamy with burnt fruitcake and spices. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com

...This new SR was matured in first fill ex-bourbon, refill, and wine-seasoned casks. I appears that wine's become almost mandatory in all of Whiskydom, do not ask me why (but if you do, I've got a few ideas). Oh and the kind of luminescent jellyfish that's on the label seems to be one of Skye's own legends. Animals, real or mythical, keep ruling on Diageo's malt whiskies (not talking about managers and blenders here). All spacey new graphics are actually superb IMHO. Colour: straw. Nose: it seems to be a rather lighter Talisker, perhaps a little more on some kind of smoked herbs, and samphires perhaps, and tarragon, green peppercorn, then unexpected notes of lighter mezcal. Olive brine in the background, never a miss. With water: smoked bread, raw wool, perhaps more mezcal. Mouth (neat): perhaps more power on the palate, more peppered and pickled lemons for sure, notes of fudge soon to get salted and peppered, some spiciness, Pad Thai, capers and camphor… It does feel a little modern but many new whiskies are. I mean, they hardly ever use the traditional method anymore. You know, 1. Fill cask, 2. Wait, 3. Bottle. With water: relatively sweeter, but otherwise clearly briney and, of course, peppery. Finish: medium, more on citrons and other citrus, but it's clearly Talisker. Comments: it's meant to be a lighter peater, but it's still a pretty peaty – and excellent – young Talisker in my book. Some echoes of the current 10 here and there; well, obviously. 88 points - whiskyfun.com