Taliskers first-ever 45-year-old whisky

Talisker launches its first-ever 45-year-old single malt Scotch whisky: aged for more than 40 years and then a finish in casks cracked by freezing temperatures. This whisky marks the final part of an adventurous series of wild whisky experiments. It is the third and final whisky in the Talisker Xpedition Oak series, a series of rare, long-aged single malt whiskies.

Treated with frostbite

12 heavily burnt-out American oak barrels of Talisker were taken on a journey to ice: on an ice field in Canada, they were exposed to freezing temperatures and biting arctic winds. During the finish, more contact surface was available between the whisky and the wood. This allowed the whisky to soak deeper into the wood and absorb spicier and sweeter aromas from the American oak ex-bourbon barrels. This unlocked new depths in Talisker's distinctive flavors.

Tasting note

Colour

Shiny pale amber. Forms many droplets.

Nose

Rich, dry and mild, with a slight hint of pepper. Bright maritime notes indicate seaweed and iodine; alongside notes of glacial minerals reminiscent of slaked lime and salt crystals. Underneath, complex sweet aromas of dried fruit and creamy vanilla reveal themselves, providing depth and warmth. A light smoke aroma can be detected in the background, with a hint of sandalwood. Adding a drop of water adds a hint of almond toffee. The other aromas remain perceptible, with this time a hint of hemp rope.

Body

Full-bodied, rich.

Taste

The texture is as smooth as oil and mouth-filling; the flavor begins toffee-sweet and then becomes deliciously salty with an increasing pepperiness; despite the long aging time, the taste is remarkably intense, with another surprising hint of chile. Adding a splash of water merges these flavors more. The toffee flavor is now accompanied by a delicious saltiness, reminiscent of salted caramel. The pepperiness diminishes slightly.

Finish

Very long, with a magnificent effect of chili pepper and a hint of candle wax increasing in the aftertaste, with salt and pepper also remaining present. Saltier when water is added, with less pepper and a slight smoky aroma.

What do others say about this Talisker

On WhivieBlog, this Talisker by Mark Dermul received a whopping 95 points: Read Mark Dermul's tasting notes here

On WhiskyNotes, this Talisker by Ruben Luyten received a whopping 94 points: Read Ruben Luyten's tasting notes here

On Whiskyfun, this Talisker by Serge Valentin received a whopping 93 points: Read Serge Valentin's tasting notes here