Review #225: Talisker Distiller Edition 2017

Island - 10 - Chill-filtered - e150  - $95 at Binny's $78 at Total Wine - 45.8%

Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skyy, which is cool and owned by Diageo, not so much.  This is my second distiller's edition that I have reviewed where Diageo does the right thing and ups the ABV and stops coloring and chill-filtering finishes their spirit in a different cask.  The 2017 Talisker Distiller's Edition is Talisker that has been finished in a Amoroso Sherry Cask.  I wasn't familiar with Amaroso so my cursory  Googling tells me that it is an archaic term for Cream / Medium sherry.  It is a sweetened sherry of Amontillado or Oloroso sweetened with PX or Moscatel.  So this could Amontillado or Oloroso combined with PX or Moscatel, which means I don't really know what this cask was.  

Color - Russet 

Nose - Peat smoke, raisins, figs, chocolate, cane sugar, caramel, orange rind

Palate - Caramel,  baking spice, oranges, a touch of wood

Finish - Long -  Clean smoke and & baking spices that evolve into sharp lingering cloves

Overall - 5 - Well the nose starts this guy out well but the finish reminds me of when you eat a piece of ham where the clove was stuck in it. I am not sure if I like this or hate it, let me drink more.  OK, after making it half way through the dram it started grow on me.  Maybe my palate got more used to the strong clove flavor but I don't think that I will ever grow to love it.  The nose was great, I just wish that tasted the way it smelled.  I was pleased that the mouthfeel didn't come off as thin and that it had a decent body to it.  I don't think I would ever buy a bottle of this but it made me curious to try other years of the Talisker DE.   

Past Talisker Reviews

Talisker 6 Old Malt Cask

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16