Talisker Storm

Profile: Talisker Storm at a Glance

• Talisker Storm - When whisky replaces the weather forecast
• No age statement, but with plenty of character
• Peppery, maritime, and not exactly a fair-weather dram
• Born on Skye - where the rain falls sideways
• Stormy in name, stormy in the glass

Portrait: What makes the Talisker Storm special

There are days when one look out the window is enough to know: no sunscreen is going to work. And then there's Talisker Storm - the single malt that sounds like a storm warning and takes itself just as seriously. Only with more style.

This wild fellow was born on the Isle of Skye, a Scottish island that looks as if the weather has permanently moved into a shared apartment there. Rain, wind, sea spray - the whole program. The Talisker distillery has stood right here since 1830, when two brothers decided that the best way to defy the weather was apparently in liquid form, straight from the cask.

Talisker Storm is, in a way, the younger, boisterous cousin of the classic Talisker 10 year old. It was launched in 2013, probably because someone at the distillery thought, "What if we just make more Talisker - but with drama?" And lo and behold, the Storm version was born. No age statement, just more character and a label that looks like a nautical chart just before sinking. Officially, the Storm is said to be a tribute to the wild seas around Skye. Unofficially, it's probably what happens when a cask decides to unleash its inner pirate. Drinking Talisker Storm doesn't need a weather forecast - it is the weather forecast. Only with whisky in it. And unlike a real storm, you can let it into your living room with a clear conscience. Windbreaker optional.

Conclusion: Talisker Storm is temperamental but approachable - a storm that'd rather drink with you than blow you away. Ideal for those who like Talisker but want to avoid the full-blown hurricane (for now).

Tasting Notes: This is how the Talisker Storm tastes like

• Nose: powerful and lively - a mix of maritime spray, damp driftwood, and a light peat smoke - with spicy aromas such as black pepper, ginger, and a slight sweetness in the background, almost like honey secretly sailing along on a fishing boat - a hint of citrus zest rounds off the whole thing fresh and stormy
• Palate: immediate presence, with typical Talisker pepper that really gets going - the smoke is there, but not overpowering - more like an approaching thunderstorm than a hurricane - salty marine notes meet vanilla, oak, and a subtle fruitiness - round, but with edges - like a sailor who curses politely
• Finish: medium to long, with persistent spice and a dry smokiness - the peppery character lingers until noticeable at the end, accompanied by a slightly salty breeze and a last memory of the oak barrel - not a gentle farewell, but an honest one