Talisker 10 Year

Ah, Talisker. Called "brooding," "moody," and "intense," this is from the only distillery on the Isle of Skye, a rocky, craggy island; I recommend Google imaging the Isle of Skye and checking out the beautiful, stark landscapes for yourself. 

This is another big favorite of mine, like Ardbeg Uigeadail of the previous review. This was a Scotch that entranced me from the very first pour, and has kept me coming back for more time and again.
I can't quite afford a bottle of the 18-year expression, but I will review Talisker Storm shortly. 

Nose: Predominantly salty and smoky. They seem to alternate and intermingle, like those fingers of smoke in cartoons that beckon to hungry characters. The salt is laced with hints of sweetness - this isn't the iodine-type salt of Ardbeg of Laphroaig, but something like sea brine. The smoke is delicious in the air. 

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, really good all across the mouth. 

Palate: So intriguing! Mineral in the extreme, you get the expected smoke, but with strong hints of stone beneath it - what a strange impression it makes, but a pleasant one. I can see why people call this whisky mysterious. A lot more salt (brine), but paired now with some light cereal and light fruit - perhaps pears. A lot of flavors you don't expect to fit together somehow do, like a jigsaw puzzle, but also like a jigsaw puzzle the demarcations between the pieces are very clear. Maybe some citrus on the back end, along with a slight dryness (oak?). The flavors progress steadily across the tongue. 

Finish: Long and hot, Talisker warms the mouth - a perfect winter whisky - and keeps it warm, although it's not a spicy heat but something else again ... the Talisker website says there is a sweetness and a peppery element, but I get something else, something earthy that seems to come from the mineral elements. Flinty. 

Verdict: This is a really remarkable dram. Highly recommended. I recognize it's not for all tastes, but it should be sampled at least once in case your mouth responds to the call the way mine did. 

Link to Talisker 10-Year's website: http://www.malts.com/index.php/en_us/Our-Whiskies/Talisker/The-Family