Talisker 14 years old Special Releases 2025
Talisker again featured in the Special Releases done by Diageo in 2025, but where we got an 8 years old last year, the expression of this year is of quite a nice age. The treatment of the cask remained the same, and equally puzzling. I am quite curious about this edition, moreover because Talisker does not really release older expressions, does it? I had to look it up, but indeed in the core range you will be hard pressed to name any other age stated Talisker besides the regular 10 years old – the proud flagship – and the once beloved 18 years old. I deliberately use the word “once”, since prices on this bottling have skyrocketed over the last 20 years. Hopefully, with many distilleries returning to age stated whisky, like Glenmorangie, we are going to see more diversity in the Talisker range as well. Because, well, let’s face it, there are only so many wordplays on Storm and Skye I can take.
Talisker 14 years old, Special Releases 2025, bottled at 53,9 % abv
First things first: This years’ expression was named “Molten Seas”, matured for 14 years and received a finish in toasted American oak casks. Aided by the heat of the volcanic rock from Skye.
Upon Sipping: Whatever that means, those volcanic infusions, we take the glass and are not knocked back by a peppery arrival, but rather a subdued nose. Lots of creamy vanilla, before a more rugged smell takes over. Some bananas in there, smoke of course, but mildly. The taste is almost surprisingly sweet, with lots of vanilla and cream caramel. Only on the finish, we get some of the typical crushed black peppers that you want from Talisker.
Let us play with some water, for I guess this Talisker needs to be brought alive. Yes, it works, on the nose we finally pick up a hint of sea spray and salted rocks on a beach during low tide. But it is summer, not autumn, these pebbles have dried in the sun. Some mint creeps out in the open. The taste became even creamier, like sipping sunflower oil from a spoon. The interplay with the smoky, spicy element of Talisker performs on its peak mostly near and during the finish.
Word to the Wise: A bit of a weird experience, I prefer my Talisker more straightforward I suppose. The cask treatment does bring something extra to the complete picture, but in the end it mostly makes me yearn for a clean, naked version of a middle-aged Talisker. The creaminess is something you need to enjoy.
Score: 84 points.