Talisker 57 Degrees North (NAS)

Hello from Madagascar! I'm on the far side of the world but still knee-deep in the Scotch game. Well, ankle-deep - although I have to say that I'm impressed by the Scotch lineup in the 9th-poorest country in the world. Vodka, gin, bourbon are all bare bones here. Rhum is the local staple, and heavily available in a wide variety of flavored options (most notably coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, and a number of tropical fruits like coconut and lychee). 

ScotchTalk Vol. 4: "Taste"

Taste is a strange sense, and perhaps the most subjective.

Most people can agree on the scent of an apple, or perfume, or the ocean when they encounter it blindfolded. Most people can differentiate touch between soft and hard, knobby and smooth, etc., to a very surprisingly minute degree. Most people can detect almost infinitely small gradients of color, and generally agree what is pleasing to observe and what isn't (within reasonable limits). 

Talisker Storm (NAS)

Talisker Storm is a No Age Statement whisky (yet another) that is designed to fit in between the 10 Year (which I love) and the 18 Year (which I haven't had yet). I can find the regular Talisker 10 Year for $50 all day long, and the 18 Year for $115 or so, and this one averages about $65-70. I managed to pick it up for half price at $30, a real steal. 

Isle of Jura "Origin"

The Isle of Jura is one of those miscellaneous isles like Skye and the Orkneys that don't quite fall under any other Scotch geographic heading and get short shrift in the press, being generally getting lumped in with Islay. 

Highland Park 12 Year

I came late to the Highland Park table, because of a silly mistake that was entirely my fault; I had a distant, and wrong, memory that Highland Park was a cheap blend. Turns out I was thinking of the mouth swill known as Highland Mist. Understandable mistake, but one that sadly delayed my liquid journey to the Orkney Islands, home of the Highland Park distillery. 

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.