Tactical 27 yo 1973/2001 (46%, Douglas Laing, Old Malt Cask, 264 bottles)
The actual name, in fact, was ‘Directors Tactical Selection’, but Douglas Laing, and later its two branches following the brothers' split, were able to use the ‘Talisker’ brand name. This Talisker was distilled using barley from Glen Ord Maltings (just like Brora was), as its own maltings had closed, I believe the year prior. Colour: pale gold. Nose: absolutely beautiful, like stepping into an artist’s studio with oil paints, charcoal, fixative, turpentine, linseed oil, and old rags scattered about. Then, there’s a touch of citron, silver polish, and some very polite seaweed, perhaps even a few cooked whelks. Mouth: truly exceptional, reminiscent of the old official bottlings (particularly the 8-year-old), with an immediate hit of brine, followed by grapefruit and smoked oysters. It’s packed with iodine and ash, and again, those ‘old tubes of oil paint’ come to mind. Let’s call it Veronese green (why not?). Finish: long, salty, with a distinct Manzanilla note. Comments: there’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about this, with the peat so perfectly woven in—it’s a part of the whisky, not just laid on top, as can sometimes happen these days. One wonders if we paid enough attention to Talisker when bottles like this were available... I imagine we did.
SGP:465 – 93 points.

Talisker 8 yo ‘Tidal Churn’ (58.7%, OB, Stone-spun and re-toasted finish, Special Releases 2024)
I see they're saying, ‘the barrels’ original char layers are polished away by rocks and water, then lightly re-toasted.’ Sounds quite techy (AI idea?), but it’s surely better than a tequila or shiraz finish. It reminds me of last year’s very old Talisker, where the finishing casks had been exposed to extreme cold and somehow ‘cracked’. Perhaps next year they’ll play Led Zeppelin to the casks—or better yet, the Oysterband with the delightful June Tabor. Colour: white wine. Nose: not sure if it’s the treatment that’s bringing out all this fruitiness—there’s pear liqueur and ripe apples—but it’s certainly quite fruity for a Talisker, and barely peaty. For now. With water: the maritime side surfaces, with sea water, seaweed, oysters, ashes, and a few drops of cider vinegar. Mouth (neat): more maritime now, salty, slightly sharp, with plenty of ashes and pepper. Very young. With water: there we go, we’ve arrived at a simple but good young Talisker. One to buy by the pallet and stash in a cellar for thirty years or more. Any volunteers among the younger malt fans? Finish: fairly long, fruitier again, with the pear returning, some ash, and still that touch of cider vinegar. Comments: it almost feels like a blended malt—50% Talisker, and let’s say 50% Glenkinchie. Really ‘very good’.
SGP:655 – 85 points.