At the beginning of this year, I decided to learn a bit more about single malt scotch after spending many years getting educated about wine. The first things I realized - there is at least as much to learn if not more, and that the "learning process" is certainly not hard work ... I'll have a longer post on some of the best resources for beginners that I have come across.
The Talisker 18 year single malt certainly ranks as one of my favorites thus far. It is a cask-aged beauty from the Isle of Skye with a rich, sweet nose. I've heard that whiskies from Skye have a "maritime" nose, but that wasn't overly apparent to me in this bottle.
The taste was full-bodied and smooth with very little harshness. It was a complex mix of toffee, rum and smokiness throughout; overall a very pleasant scotch with a long finish, and highly recommended.
Incidentally, I did not try the Talisker with food, but various pairing guides suggest it would go well with smoked salmon, kipper fillets, grilled smoked mackerel and oysters on the half shell - smokiness and maritime flavors, indeed.
Score: A- (one I would go back to again and again)
