Talisker 1985 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Talisker 1985 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Situated on the shores of Loch Harport, Talisker Distillery is heavily influenced by its location on the Isle of Skye it embodies the spirit of the rocky, storm-lashed island and its strong, steadfast people. The distillery was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, who leased the Talisker House from Clan MacLeod and eventually converted it into a distillery. When a new lease for the distillery was negotiated between the MacAskills and Clan MacLeod in the second half of the 19th century, the annual rent settled upon was 23.12 and a ten-gallon cask of the best Talisker Whisky available. Talisker Single Malt Whisky is made from malted barley sourced from the Muir of Ord, a village in Highland, Scotland. The barley is lightly peated to approximately 18 phenol parts per million, which contributes a slightly smoky flavor profile to the whisky. Once the barley has been malted and peated, it is mashed using soft water drawn from one of the 14 underground springs that rise from Hawk Hill Talisker has been using the same water source since it was founded nearly two centuries ago. "I'm restless at heart so you'll find me poking my nose into the mash tun at all hours," says Mark Lochhead, Talisker's Distillery Manager. After the barley has been mashed, it is fermented in the distillery's wooden washbacks before being twice distilled through Talisker's copper-pot stills. The stills are equipped with unique swan-shaped lye pipes and worm tubs. As a result of this configuration, a portion of the vapor during distillation condenses before reaching the cooler, and runs back into the still for redistillation. This process gives Talisker Single Malt Whisky its signature, full-bodied flavor profile. Talisker 1985 Single Malt Scotch Whisky was distilled in 1985 and matured in refill American oak casks for 27 years before being bottled at cask strength. Released as part of Diageo's 2013 Special Release Whiskies, it has an aroma of toffee, cinnamon bark, orange and earthy minerals that give way to touches of smoke, honey, cloves and ginger on the palate. The texture is bold and complex, with accentuated notes of milk chocolate and salty brine leading to an ever-lasting finish that is slightly spicy. The whisky earned a score of 92 points from Whisky Advocate, which named it one of the top ten spirits in Spring 2014 edition. "Making Talisker demands long hours and no compromises, so I tour the distillery several times a day making sure no part of the process betrays the rest," says Lochhead. Only 3,000 bottles of this whisky have ever been made. Pick one up today!