Review #423 - Talisker 11 Year Diageo Special Releases 2022
From Diageo's annual special releases, specifically the 2022 cycle, we have a Talisker release aged for 11 years. It's a slightly unusual Talisker, in fact - the bottle states that this uses lightly-peated stocks, so we could be in for a more delicate take on the famous coastal spirit. Maturation took place exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels, so there won't be any wine or other influence to cover up that spirit character, either.
There isn't much other information, though; upon visiting Diageo/Talisker's website, the 'product information' for this bottling is nothing more than a wall of marketing gibberish about jellyfish washing up on the shores of the Isle of Skye (and a few esoteric tasting notes). On the plus side, we do get a punchy bottling strength of 55.1% ABV.
Talisker 11 Year Diageo Special Releases 2022
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 120 (2024)
Age Statement: 11 Years
Strength: 55.1% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks
Details: Bottled 2022
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Rich and sweet - vanilla, even creamy vanilla, sweet oak, and lemon curd. There is some noticeable level of peat smoking, but it's relatively light; a hint of salinity adds that coastal vibe. In time, sharper lime is added to the lemon citrus.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel, more oaky now, with some sharp tannins. Vanilla and custard bring back that creamy baking profile, and accenting that creamy flavor is a silky texture. Lemons add sharpness, along with a mild whiff of peat, and later... some spicy margarita.
Finish: Lemons grows more dominant into the finish - a balanced mix of sweet, sour, and bitter. We find some bready malt notes, and in the aftertaste, the vanilla from the palate becomes more dry.
Final Note: This is a nicely made Talisker - we actually enjoyed the lighter peat style quite a bit. Definitely distillate-focused, which is a nice change for this special release series, which often focuses on exotic finishing casks. Great light malty and fruity flavors, but there's plenty of heft from the strength to back it up.
Value is actually alright, all things considered, for the flavor you get here. These annual releases from Diageo are known for being a bit of a rip-off, but this older version is still available for about $120. That's a little bit expensive for an 11 year old cask strength single malt, but this delivers a good tasting experience.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.17
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
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