Review #96: Secret Stills 1.2 (Talisker) 1986/2007, Gordon and MacPhail, 45% abv, 1st fill sherry, C# 1361/63

open secret

So, this is Talisker. "Isle of Skye" is a bit of a giveaway.

Nose: Gentle but complex sherry nose. Dried apricots, a little iodine, walnuts, and rancio. After the nutty fruit, some peppery peat smoke. Lots of smaller notes gradually emerge: apples, white chocolate, old hay, paraffin, wood glue, leather, jonquils. Overall it's fruity, dry, and a little smoky, but it's worth spending some time with.

Palate: Soft and slightly sweet. The peat becomes prickly. There's some oak. If there's any sulfur, it's for the better.

Finish: earthy, slightly farmy peat, balanced by fruit and oak.

This is what the Distiller's Edition wishes it could be. There's nothing overwhelming here, but it's all delicious and good.

score: 90