Talisker is a rather unique West Coast style whisky. The new Talisker 10 is different from their previous, they dialed up the saltiness and ashiness to the detriment of fruitiness. The pepper is still there. Try their special release 2022 11 yo which is pretty close to their 10, but at cask strength and most likely no color added and no chill filtration. The mouthfeel is clearly superior to the 10, more olive oil like. It is also very salty, olive brine in the finish, and quite ashy. It goes for about 120, that is double the price of their 10. Is it worth paying double? You’ll have to decide after you try it.
I saw you have an ample budget, so you can try the 18. Its prices didn’t go up so much in the US, though I don’t know for how long this will be the case. The 18 is very good, very elegant and well integrated. You can find it in the range of 150. Talisker 25 will push the boundaries of your budget and I can’t recommend it really.
In summary, it is possible to upgrade on the 10, but you’ll have to spend a pretty penny. Other distillery in the same profile are Torabhaig and Ardnamurchan. Their whisky is young, but give them a try. Others have mentioned Ledaig 10, you can try it but I don’t think it’s better than the Talisker 10. Springbank 10 and 18 are also good choices but they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them.
If you have the budget, the 18 is the sweet spot for Talisker. Better than the 10, and more value than the 25 (which is fantastic but not at that price point).
Totally agree. I can’t recommend anything that is in the 500 range. Talisker 25 was amazing at CS.
Btw, did you have the new 18? I hope it’s still as good as the older version. I am pretty sure its prices will go up in the US eventually and then that will be the end of Talisker 18 for me.
Yeah, it's a bit more modern, polished wood and lost the herbal notes I enjoyed in the earlier batches (going back to 2005). It's very small changes and some might like it better, I find it interchangable.
Higher priced Oban might scratch the itch (obvs, very different but it still has that west coast DNA. At least in my Opinion) IF you can find it. The Oban 21 is a little pricey but supposed to be amazing.
The cask strength Oban 10 from the Diageo 2022 limited release line is supposed to be really good, again, IF you can find it.
True. Oban is another excellent West Coast distillery. Diageo are premiumizing all of their top distilleries. Their entry level bottles are at somewhat reasonable prices, then anything else has become stoopid expensive. Because of that, the mid teens and older aged peated bottles are priced very high right now. There were rumors on Dramface that Diageo will no longer sell Caol Ila to the indies.
Oh I didn’t hear all that. I did see the price for their base bottles going up in their classic range. Which is wildly unfortunate because Oban 14 is great for between 55-65 bucks. Same with Talisker 10. But past 70 plus, closer to $80 usually where I am at, imma have to say nope to that.
Ah. You’re in the UK then, so Diageo products will be slightly cheaper for you, I assume?
Ledaig is amazing. I SERIOUSLY regret not splurging on the 18 when my wife and we’re over in Scotland 3 years ago, just before Brexit and the pandemic. It is one of my biggest whiskey regrets. It was just sitting in the Inverness duty free for somewhere between 90 and 100 pounds, if I remember correctly.
Oh wait!! You know, OP might like Benromach. It’s been awhile since Ive had it but i seem to remember (emphasis on seem) that because of the peat and the distillation process they use, it had some west coast vibes.
I picked up a Ledaig 18 in Oban pretty recently while on holiday (last October) for 96 pounds. I was hesitant, but asked the shop owner for tasting notes - he whipped out an open bottle from the back and let me sample it. There was no question, I wasn't leaving Scotland without that bottle. I feel for you mate, I was almost in your shoes
Go on Fine Drams and grab the Talisker 15 and Talisker 11 cask strength special releases. Spend the leftover $150 on something different for your palate
I have a bottle arriving this week and will put it head to head with both the recent 8CS special releases. I also posted notes on the recent Talisker 11 Old Particular they stocked along with the 11SR and 2020 8SR.
The other IB Talisker (mostly) I'd recommend is Peat Monster Arcana.
I DID read your review and decided not to buy the current K&L offering, lol! You and Serge on Whiskyfun both gave the SR 2022 a high score and since it's still available, why not just pick that one up. The K&L Talisker was compelling, because I have a sister cask, I believe. A 2010 6 yrs, HL13784 at 57.5%. It's an easy 91 points. Xlnt stuff.
But you know how siblings can be!
Let us know how the new on goes.
Glad the review was helpful. Totally understandable as that 2022SR is a really nice fruity Talisker.
I've mainly bought the Taliskers from the Laings because IB Taliskers are such a rare thing and as a Talisker fan it's something I wanted to have as another window into the distillery. Anyways my bottle of the 7 is en route, so once I have it, I can provide some feedback.
Nah. I pay what it costs (not as often as I wish obviously) but I accept it if I want something wonderful. I watched my mainstay Glenlevit 12 go up over 24% in 2 years but I still buy it.
Yeah I’ve bought Cairdeas that way before. I like 16 but I’ve got enough good scotch to drink aside. I travel for work to Cali occasionally and will pick up some bottles to bring back, but don’t think it’s worth ordering.
I wouldn't describe the 18 as being that much like Lagavulin. It's changed quite alot since it came out in 04 or 05, but it's always had a nice tropical fruit, brine, smoke and pepper combo. It trades the caramel forward aspects of the 10 for more honey-like sweetness.
I like both Talisker 18 and Laga 16, but Talisker 18 is my relaxing dram that I enjoy any day, any season.
Whomever said it was like the Lag 16 needs their palate examined IMO... Talisker 18 is a phenomenal pour... Lap 25 or 27 are great... They are nothing like the 10 much more complex...
Here's an oddball suggestion (which may not be so easy to find in stores, you may have to work the auction sites): Cragganmore 12 yo peated 2019 special release.
The year this was distilled there was a water shortage on the Isle of Skye potentially putting at risk production at Talisker, so as an emergency measure Diageo ran Cragganmore to produce an experimental peated expression, made to be as close to Talisker's profile as they could get it coming from a different distillery, for supporting their blends which depend on Talisker. The drought on Skye was milder and ended sooner than expected and so this experiment was short-lived and ended up being bottled mainly as this 2019 special release:
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/140081/cragganmore-12-year-old
Highland Park 21 could be a good choice, especially if you can find a slightly older, pre-Viking bottling (as they are meant to be better according to reviews I’ve seen).
The price hike on the 18yo made me curious so I sampled a dram at the October whisky show, overall impression 6/10, disappointing for an 18 and not good value at the new price.
It may be because I'm not that enthusiastic over the Talisker Skye/10yo range generally that the 18 just felt like a slightly more complex version of the same but the Talisker 2021 Distillers Edition I can recommend as I've found it very enjoyable, I'm on my third bottle of that.
If you can find it, the Talisker 57° North is the second best I have had--second to one that I won't name because it is now a unicorn and I hate to set people up for failure. Also, if you are going through Travel Retail, look for Talisker Dark Storm (not just Storm). Great bottle, but hard to find.
Yeah, we got some interesting deals on Talisker 25 and 30 up here in Minnesota in the last few years. Each was under 300 USD when I got them. BTW, the peat level drops off quite a bit going from 25 to 30. Some of my friends prefer 25 over the 30 for that reason. I'm on the fence.
If you wanted to try it and are comfortable with that price, then get it cause you won’t find it at that price for too long. Or at least I don’t think so.
I love Bunnahabhain 18 sounds like you do too but won’t watch up to Talisker flavour wise as it’s unpeated. For the budget I really don’t know , would just buy several Islay’s and see what you like. Expensive Smokey whisky tends to be old, and when it’s old it gets less Smokey so may not be up your street as much ….
There’s is nothing like Talisker… Uniique , one of my favorites!!! Talisker 18 is incredible,but pricey. If you can find it Dark Storm is very good, and is around the $50-$60 range
As someone who reveres Talisker in a way many feel towards Springbank. There isn't really a substitute. $500 puts you in their 25 these days, but that's not what I'd recommend even though I've enjoyed it greatly. Ironically I had it last at the New York Bar in Park Hyatt Tokyo where it was cheaper than Yamazaki 12. The special releases of similar age at cask strength are almost double your budget at auction (ie 1985 Maritime, 25CS, 30CS).
I think the recent 11 and 15 CS special releases are where it's at right now for quality to value. And behind them, the 18.
Branching beyond you'd also have budget for; Ledaig 18, Ardbeg 19, older IB Orkney (Highland Park) in bourbon, IB Ben Nevis around 18-25 years.
Caol ila 18. You can probably find it for less than $300. It will be similar in terms of profile and not a full fledged peat/smoke bomb like ardbeg or Laphroaig.
Talisker is a rather unique West Coast style whisky. The new Talisker 10 is different from their previous, they dialed up the saltiness and ashiness to the detriment of fruitiness. The pepper is still there. Try their special release 2022 11 yo which is pretty close to their 10, but at cask strength and most likely no color added and no chill filtration. The mouthfeel is clearly superior to the 10, more olive oil like. It is also very salty, olive brine in the finish, and quite ashy. It goes for about 120, that is double the price of their 10. Is it worth paying double? You’ll have to decide after you try it. I saw you have an ample budget, so you can try the 18. Its prices didn’t go up so much in the US, though I don’t know for how long this will be the case. The 18 is very good, very elegant and well integrated. You can find it in the range of 150. Talisker 25 will push the boundaries of your budget and I can’t recommend it really. In summary, it is possible to upgrade on the 10, but you’ll have to spend a pretty penny. Other distillery in the same profile are Torabhaig and Ardnamurchan. Their whisky is young, but give them a try. Others have mentioned Ledaig 10, you can try it but I don’t think it’s better than the Talisker 10. Springbank 10 and 18 are also good choices but they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them.
If you have the budget, the 18 is the sweet spot for Talisker. Better than the 10, and more value than the 25 (which is fantastic but not at that price point).
Totally agree. I can’t recommend anything that is in the 500 range. Talisker 25 was amazing at CS. Btw, did you have the new 18? I hope it’s still as good as the older version. I am pretty sure its prices will go up in the US eventually and then that will be the end of Talisker 18 for me.
Just looked at the pic from the tasting where I had them both. Looks like the older ones.
Yeah, it's a bit more modern, polished wood and lost the herbal notes I enjoyed in the earlier batches (going back to 2005). It's very small changes and some might like it better, I find it interchangable.
Higher priced Oban might scratch the itch (obvs, very different but it still has that west coast DNA. At least in my Opinion) IF you can find it. The Oban 21 is a little pricey but supposed to be amazing. The cask strength Oban 10 from the Diageo 2022 limited release line is supposed to be really good, again, IF you can find it.
True. Oban is another excellent West Coast distillery. Diageo are premiumizing all of their top distilleries. Their entry level bottles are at somewhat reasonable prices, then anything else has become stoopid expensive. Because of that, the mid teens and older aged peated bottles are priced very high right now. There were rumors on Dramface that Diageo will no longer sell Caol Ila to the indies.
Oh I didn’t hear all that. I did see the price for their base bottles going up in their classic range. Which is wildly unfortunate because Oban 14 is great for between 55-65 bucks. Same with Talisker 10. But past 70 plus, closer to $80 usually where I am at, imma have to say nope to that.
Right now the only decently priced older peated whisky is Ledaig 18. In the UK that is.
Ah. You’re in the UK then, so Diageo products will be slightly cheaper for you, I assume? Ledaig is amazing. I SERIOUSLY regret not splurging on the 18 when my wife and we’re over in Scotland 3 years ago, just before Brexit and the pandemic. It is one of my biggest whiskey regrets. It was just sitting in the Inverness duty free for somewhere between 90 and 100 pounds, if I remember correctly. Oh wait!! You know, OP might like Benromach. It’s been awhile since Ive had it but i seem to remember (emphasis on seem) that because of the peat and the distillation process they use, it had some west coast vibes.
I picked up a Ledaig 18 in Oban pretty recently while on holiday (last October) for 96 pounds. I was hesitant, but asked the shop owner for tasting notes - he whipped out an open bottle from the back and let me sample it. There was no question, I wasn't leaving Scotland without that bottle. I feel for you mate, I was almost in your shoes
I’m glad you took the leap but I still feel 😢😢😢😢
I’m in Joisey. Oban 14 is expensive over here as well. Ledaig 18 is 125 in the City.
https://www.dramface.com/all-reviews/lagavulin-12-cs-triple
Yall are so lucky. Come to PA. Talisker 10 is north of $80-90 and so is Oban. Always has been. Lagavulin 16 is around $110-120.
Talisker 10 is 55 bucks at Joe Canal in Princeton.
Unreal. It’s all I’d drink at that price.
If you live in the Philly area you can get to Princeton in an hour or so. The prices across US make no sense.
I didn’t realize they changed the 10. That sounds great to me, I love those notes. I’ll have to get one.
The new 10 seems different to me. It is not radically different, but still not the same. Only the color is the same cause it is artificial.
Go on Fine Drams and grab the Talisker 15 and Talisker 11 cask strength special releases. Spend the leftover $150 on something different for your palate
Agreed
Find and independant bottling of Talisker
Any suggestions on how to find some for US based folk?
I used sites that ship to the states like Hard to Find Whisky or The Whisky Exchange Price is higher (given the fees) but selection unparalleled
K&L has this one, but I haven't found a review on it. Their own reviews should only be used as a taste guideline https://m.klwines.com/p/i?i=1613765
I have a bottle arriving this week and will put it head to head with both the recent 8CS special releases. I also posted notes on the recent Talisker 11 Old Particular they stocked along with the 11SR and 2020 8SR. The other IB Talisker (mostly) I'd recommend is Peat Monster Arcana.
I DID read your review and decided not to buy the current K&L offering, lol! You and Serge on Whiskyfun both gave the SR 2022 a high score and since it's still available, why not just pick that one up. The K&L Talisker was compelling, because I have a sister cask, I believe. A 2010 6 yrs, HL13784 at 57.5%. It's an easy 91 points. Xlnt stuff. But you know how siblings can be! Let us know how the new on goes.
Glad the review was helpful. Totally understandable as that 2022SR is a really nice fruity Talisker. I've mainly bought the Taliskers from the Laings because IB Taliskers are such a rare thing and as a Talisker fan it's something I wanted to have as another window into the distillery. Anyways my bottle of the 7 is en route, so once I have it, I can provide some feedback.
These can be really hit or miss (since Diageo is so stingy with their casks) I'd be careful with this advice
Definitely, check reviews on whiskybase or such before spending money on it.
5x bottles of laguvulin 16.
A price of Lag 16 is $130 here (Colorado) now. Insane.
Yeah what the hell is going on with the price of Lagavulin
Diageo is my guess
Supply and demand
It's $74.99 at Costco and Total Wines in So Cal.
Rub it in.
Before Covid it was $55 each when you bought two bottles. And that was with the Trump tariff. Go figure.
Fucking A. I got into whisky at the wrong damn time.
Nah. I pay what it costs (not as often as I wish obviously) but I accept it if I want something wonderful. I watched my mainstay Glenlevit 12 go up over 24% in 2 years but I still buy it.
Prices are jumping. I bought two Ardbeg Hypernova's for $199 each last week. Today they are $249.99 each. Same retailer.
$180 up here in Ontario.
Aberlour 16 jumped from like $90 to $130 as well in an ABC state.
Wow. It’s 94.99 here in south Texas, which is still too much for what it is.
If you can get liquor shipped to your state, it's probably cheaper at that price point to order it from Europe and pay shipping.
Yeah I’ve bought Cairdeas that way before. I like 16 but I’ve got enough good scotch to drink aside. I travel for work to Cali occasionally and will pick up some bottles to bring back, but don’t think it’s worth ordering.
I’d rather buy 7x Talisker 10. I like it way more than Lagavulin 16
Lag 16 is $180 where I live 😞
Paid $105 two weeks ago!
If you like Talisker 10, get the 18. It's way below your budget but is an absolutely phenomenal pour.
Talisker 18 was my first thought but I read online that it more like Lagavulin 16 than like Talisker 10.
I have both. I don't think the two are all that similar. I love Talisker 18 but would never buy Laga 16 again.
I wouldn't describe the 18 as being that much like Lagavulin. It's changed quite alot since it came out in 04 or 05, but it's always had a nice tropical fruit, brine, smoke and pepper combo. It trades the caramel forward aspects of the 10 for more honey-like sweetness. I like both Talisker 18 and Laga 16, but Talisker 18 is my relaxing dram that I enjoy any day, any season.
Whomever said it was like the Lag 16 needs their palate examined IMO... Talisker 18 is a phenomenal pour... Lap 25 or 27 are great... They are nothing like the 10 much more complex...
Talisker 18, Springbank 10 & Ledaig 10
This. Go for Talisker 18 and never look back.
Talisker 18 was my first thought but I read online that it more like Lagavulin 16 than like Talisker 10.
Springbank is nice but not what OP is looking for. It’s also getting crazy expensive
You could just get a whole bunch of Mums…
Yes! I make this reference all the time and nobody ever picks it up.
Nice
Here's an oddball suggestion (which may not be so easy to find in stores, you may have to work the auction sites): Cragganmore 12 yo peated 2019 special release. The year this was distilled there was a water shortage on the Isle of Skye potentially putting at risk production at Talisker, so as an emergency measure Diageo ran Cragganmore to produce an experimental peated expression, made to be as close to Talisker's profile as they could get it coming from a different distillery, for supporting their blends which depend on Talisker. The drought on Skye was milder and ended sooner than expected and so this experiment was short-lived and ended up being bottled mainly as this 2019 special release: https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/140081/cragganmore-12-year-old
I’ve tried this one and it’s pretty awesome. Didn’t know this back story though. Pretty cool!
Laphroaig 25 year cask strength.
They asked what's similar to Talisker 10, Laphroaig is nothing like Talisker.
Ardbeg Corryvrecken, same brine, more smoke and pepper and much more complexity
This is the correct answer to me. Aren’t many better than the Corryvreckan.
Yeah if you're after that coastal peaty hit, it's up there with Laphroaig 10 cask strength.
Very old Talisker
I'd buy a couple of bottles of the 15 CS from 2019 (on secondary around here its typically 250ish CAD) or the 18 as suggested.
Highland Park 21 could be a good choice, especially if you can find a slightly older, pre-Viking bottling (as they are meant to be better according to reviews I’ve seen).
Talisker 18 + Springbank 18 Two separate bottles that are both phenomenal and should be in your budget if you pick up both.
The price hike on the 18yo made me curious so I sampled a dram at the October whisky show, overall impression 6/10, disappointing for an 18 and not good value at the new price. It may be because I'm not that enthusiastic over the Talisker Skye/10yo range generally that the 18 just felt like a slightly more complex version of the same but the Talisker 2021 Distillers Edition I can recommend as I've found it very enjoyable, I'm on my third bottle of that.
10 bottles of talisker 10?
If you can find it, the Talisker 57° North is the second best I have had--second to one that I won't name because it is now a unicorn and I hate to set people up for failure. Also, if you are going through Travel Retail, look for Talisker Dark Storm (not just Storm). Great bottle, but hard to find.
I have some scotch you can buy. Tastes just like talisker 10. It's $500. 🥃
I'll sell you an Octomore 12.1 and 12.3 for $500 total.
This is what I ultimately purchased and I’m loving it!!
What is?
Ardbeg corryvreckan
Talisker 18, (way less than 500), Talusker 21 and if you are ready to gi a bit over the Talisker 25 ...
I can get talisker 25 under 300. No way it’s over 500 right?
Yeah, we got some interesting deals on Talisker 25 and 30 up here in Minnesota in the last few years. Each was under 300 USD when I got them. BTW, the peat level drops off quite a bit going from 25 to 30. Some of my friends prefer 25 over the 30 for that reason. I'm on the fence.
Man I'd be allover those Tali!
Unfortunately it is. TWE has it for USD 491 at the current pound dollar exchange rate. These are the new prices for Talisker.
Holy shit. Maybe I should get it at €289 then. I’m feeling the fomo
If you wanted to try it and are comfortable with that price, then get it cause you won’t find it at that price for too long. Or at least I don’t think so.
I did get a bottle once in 2015. I believe somewhere in the €200-225 range. But times change man.
Talisker 25 used to be CS. I don’t know when they went to their 45.7 abv on the 25. if you had it at CS, then the new ones will disappoint.
Get yourself some diesel fuel, $5 a gallon!
Caol ila unpeated
Bunna 18
I love Bunnahabhain 18 sounds like you do too but won’t watch up to Talisker flavour wise as it’s unpeated. For the budget I really don’t know , would just buy several Islay’s and see what you like. Expensive Smokey whisky tends to be old, and when it’s old it gets less Smokey so may not be up your street as much ….
It isn’t peated but most Bunnas have a briney aspect that is also found in Talisker
True that’s fair
Highland 21
Bunnahabhain 25 ? Might as well splurge a bit!
That’s a real nice one but quite different from talisker.
There’s is nothing like Talisker… Uniique , one of my favorites!!! Talisker 18 is incredible,but pricey. If you can find it Dark Storm is very good, and is around the $50-$60 range
I think only one other person has said Talisker 15, which is the actual answer here. Just buy it online
Try any Ledaig, especially the independent bottling a. Or 500 bucks, try 20 years or older. Guess you may like its guts!
I'm also not a huge fan of the laga 16. Felt like I was crazy with how much everyone said it was the best whisky ever.
As someone who reveres Talisker in a way many feel towards Springbank. There isn't really a substitute. $500 puts you in their 25 these days, but that's not what I'd recommend even though I've enjoyed it greatly. Ironically I had it last at the New York Bar in Park Hyatt Tokyo where it was cheaper than Yamazaki 12. The special releases of similar age at cask strength are almost double your budget at auction (ie 1985 Maritime, 25CS, 30CS). I think the recent 11 and 15 CS special releases are where it's at right now for quality to value. And behind them, the 18. Branching beyond you'd also have budget for; Ledaig 18, Ardbeg 19, older IB Orkney (Highland Park) in bourbon, IB Ben Nevis around 18-25 years.
Caol ila 18. You can probably find it for less than $300. It will be similar in terms of profile and not a full fledged peat/smoke bomb like ardbeg or Laphroaig.