Talisker 1986-2005 19yo The Whisky Fair #1485 45.9%

A Talisker that fully embodies the house style. Talisker TALISLER 1986-2005 19yo The Whisky Fair #1485 45.9% (One of 252 bottles, Bourbon Hogshead) The aroma features honey and lemon, smoky and powerful peat, vanilla, and a pleasant maltiness. On the palate, it starts with a smooth mouthfeel before gradually becoming spicy, revealing orange peel, sweet honeyed richness, a slightly bitter grassy note, smoked fish, and a savory dashi-like umami. The peat is strong and lingers on the finish. [Good/Very Good] This Talisker 1986, aged for 19 years, was bottled in 2005 by The Whisky Fair. While the cask is not overly dominant and the aroma isn't particularly diverse, the spicy nuances experienced during drinking are distinctly Talisker. The peppery spice often becomes difficult to discern when cask strength is high, the spirit is new-make, or the cask influence is strong. However, this bottle has a subtle cask character, lower-than-expected strength for its specifications, and has aged over 10 years since bottling. This makes it easier to recognize the spicy nuance as a true representation of Talisker's house style. Though straightforward in aroma, it has depth and rich umami. It also shows signs of bottle aging, developing a refined character. As a peaty malt in this category, I personally quite enjoy it.