Talisker Dark Storm Single Malt Whiskey - Duty Free - 1 Litre

Talisker Dark Storm single malt Scotch whisky is matured in heavily-charred oak casks for an intensely smoky flavour, designed to capture the wild, untamed spirit of a full-blown storm at sea. It has amber gold appearance. A salty, smoky edge combines with hints of aromatic spices and oak, developing into stewed apples. Exceedingly smooth and sweet palate with an intense vibrant combination of fresh fruits, blackcurrants and liquorice, slowly disappearing into a tempest of rich spice. Warm, lingering finish and powerfully smoky. When it comes to Talisker you can’t go past smoked salmon, the two are made for each other.

History

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 Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky takes its name from the harsh conditions that the Isle of Skye often experiences. “We were inspired to craft an expression as unique as the dramatic terrain of the island from where it hails,” says Jim Beveridge, Talisker’s master blender. The whisky is crafted by marrying together both rejuvenated and refill casks of different ages to enhance the vibrant intensity that is the signature of Talisker Distillery. This approach allows Beveridge to create “one vibrant dram.”

Talisker Storm has an aroma of spicy oak, smoked beef, black pepper and honey. The aroma gives way to notes of mellow and rich caramel on the palate that are followed by warming notes of pepper and cloves. The finish is smooth and lasting, with touches of smoke, pepper and salt.

Talisker Storm was named the Highlands Single Malt of the Year on December 20, 2013, by Whisky Advocate.