A fantastic Talisker here, released as part of Diageo's 2020 Special Releases! This 8 year old expression was aged in ex-pot still Caribbean rum casks - a first for the distillery! The result is brilliantly balanced, with smoke, fruit, peppery spice and even a touch of meatiness to it. Definitely worth checking out!

The annual Diageo Special Releases always has a theme. However, the 2020 Special Releases marks the first time a theme repeats itself. Due to the popularity of the 2019 Rare By Nature collection, Diageo has released a part two.

This gives Master Blender, Dr. Craig Wilson the ability to showcase whiskies as an encore from these distilleries that would possibly not get bottled on their own. The 2020 Rare by Nature has the same whiskies as the 2019 Special Releases for whisky lovers to compare. Dr. Wilson meticulously hand selects each whisky to show another side of the distilleries chosen.

The seventh whisky in the Rare by Nature editions comes from the Talisker Distillery. For the 2019 edition, the Talisker was 15-years-old. This year, the Talisker is an 8-year-old whisky. Isle of Skye is fifty miles long and the largest of the Inner Hebrides. All the far western edge sits the oldest distillery on Skye. Talisker makes a variety of whiskies.

Their whisky is popular and even has a cult-like following. Talisker happens to be one of my favourite scotch distilleries.
Founded in 1830, the history of Talisker is filled with ups and downs. The whisky was originally triple distilled, but eventually reverted to double distillation in 1928. In 1960, heartache and tragedy took the Talisker Distillery by surprise. A fire destroyed the stillhouse.

It took two years to replicate and replace the five stills lost in the fire. The Talisker 8 Year is typically limited to Diageo’s Special Releases, so let’s see how the Isle of Skye distillery did.

Tasting Notes

Nose : The aroma is light peat, a little salty, smoky, and a little red fruit.

Palate : Sweet first, with some citrus fruit, then a little salty, with some pepper, and a more oily flavour.

Finish : The finish is medium, oily, with a slight peat flavour that persists, and a salty-sweet aftertaste.

About Talisker

Talisker is a single malt Scotch whisky from the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, known for its rugged, maritime character, and signature flavors of smoke, sea salt, and pepper. Established in 1830 by the MacAskill brothers, its wild nature reflects its remote island home, offering a distinctive taste that balances peppery spice, sweet fruit, and rich, smoky depths. The brand has maintained its essence through centuries, embodying the elemental beauty and untamed sea of its birthplace in every bottle.

57.9% ABV

70cl