Talisker 10 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky: A Perfectly Balanced Bottle

Talisker 10 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a bottle that we could define as satisfying: the thickness, the savory marine skeleton given by the Sea of Skye, the peat, the pepper, and the sweet fruit that give contrast are in perfect balance.

The Talisker 10 is a clearly peaty single malt, but not so predictable. It shows a sweet and sly side. Let’s say that it has been carefully modeled by wood not to attack but rather to caress with a touch that goes from soft to tarry.

We’re always talking about a peaty and light-hearted brat. With this, we do not mean that it’s a mushy or “sweet” single malt. No, just don’t expect the usual roughness of an oil lamp thrown into the whirlpool of the Atlantic Ocean.

The bouquet

The nose is large and opulent, with a strong peaty push, but it is never hostile.A pulpy fruit with raisins and peaches in syrup, cocoa, tobacco, and, of course, hazelnuts with their nutty and oxidized taste come to the rescue right away.

Binding this symphony are the waves of salt and iodine from the sea that constantly return. They are the red thread that makes the bottles of the Talisker distillery unique—the trademark, or perhaps it would be better to say the very essence of these spirits.

The flavor of Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

In the mouth, it is warm and slightly balsamic. It immediately takes you away with a burst of pepper and a lot of smoke. It is like putting your face on fire. It hits hard without ever becoming an apocalyptic explosion.

The pulp is sumptuous. The creamy, herbaceous, and fruit flavors alternate with precision up to a finish of oysters and herbs of excellent persistence.

It’s a bottle that does its smoky job well; it’s tasty and suggestive in just the right way, but delicate palates should avoid it.

It is not a whisky for those who love Speyside-style graceful spirits, although, all in all, it is not even at the top of the Ardbeg 10-peat power scale. It is in three quarters. For a drink without too many pretensions, it is excellent.

The price of the Talisker 10

Forty euros: ok, the price is right.

Food Pairings

Chocolate cupcakes, cheesecakes, ciambella, Tiramisù and chocolate salami.