Perched on the shoreline between the mountains and the sea, Talisker Distillery is one of the most loved single malt makers in Scotland. Established in 1830, it is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. A staunchly traditional single malt, it has a steel lauter mash tun, eight Oregon pine wash backs, and an unusual five-still set-up with two wash and three spirit stills. Worm tub condensers cool the spirit, contributing to its robust, bold, peated and peppery style. This distillery character reflects the rugged, maritime surrounds of the remote Hebridean island.
Talisker is one of the best-selling single malt Scotch whiskies in the world, shifting around 4.5 million bottles in 2022.
Talisker’s maritime surrounds shape the character of the whisky. It is made using barley peated to around 25ppm, with many believing the saline environment contributes a briny element to the maturing smoky spirit.
The robust nature of the distillery’s signature style is contributed by the worm tub condensers. These are much less common than the shell-and-tube condensers that most whisky producers make use of and contribute to a heavier-feeling spirit. This texture is a fundamental part of the Talisker character, and is loved by whisky makers around the world.
Talisker’s five-still set-up is unusual – most distilleries operate with pairs of wash and spirit stills. The lyne arms on the wash stills feature an exaggerated ‘U’ shape to promote reflux and smooth out the spirit.
Both the wash and spirit stills are run in such a way to reduce copper contact, leading to a sulphur weight in the new-make, and, once mature, that Talisker pepperiness.
Talisker’s whisky range is varied and flavour-forward. It includes must-taste releases, and highly regarded bottlings that are considered modern classics.
No-age-statement expressions include Talisker Port Ruighe and Talisker Storm, which make use of ruby Port and American oak casks respectively. Talisker Storm is known for being especially intense, with the bold peat smoke coming to the fore.
The core range includes Talisker 10 Year Old, a fan favourite, American oak-matured expression that lets the sweet malt notes and rich peat smoke shine. Talisker 18 Year Old has won myriad awards for its rich, complex character and is an outstanding example of a complex, peated whisky.
Talisker is a regular feature in the annual Diageo Special Releases line-up, where limited-run expressions push flavour and innovation boundaries. As part of the 2024 collection, the distillery released an eight-year-old called ‘Tidal Churn’ that had been aged in casks that had been scoured by rocks.
Visiting Talisker Distillery:
Talisker Distillery is open seven days a week all year round, but the team note that it may have to close with short notice in poor weather conditions.
The Talisker visitor centre was completely revamped in 2022, and offers an immersive, multi-sensory take on whisky creation. The experiences cover whisky production and tastings, inspired by the natural beauty of the distillery’s surroundings.
Tours start with the £20 Made by the Sea tasting experience which lasts for 30 minutes, while the £350, two-hour Decades by the Sea spans a distillery tour, information about the history of the area, and a tasting of some old and rare expressions overlooking Loch Harport. There are many options in between in terms of both price and time.
Who makes Talisker whisky?
Talisker is made on the Isle of Skye by global drinks group Diageo.
What gives Talisker whisky its distinctive maritime flavor?
Talisker’s signature maratime flavour is the result of both its location and production methods. It’s thought that the coastal setting gives a briny salinity to the maturing spirit. At the same time, production elements like the shape of the stills and the worm tub condensers contribute to the bolder, robust, peppery flavour profile.
Is Talisker whisky peaty or smoky?
Talisker is both peaty AND smoky. ‘Peated’ can mean both process and flavour. It is a peated whisky, which means peat was used in the processing of the barley. Peat contributes a smoky flavour, but it can also give a more organic, earthy profile, too. Talisker has both.
Can you tour Talisker Distillery?
Yes, Talisker Distillery is open for tours seven days a week, all year round.
What movies feature Talisker whisky?
Talisker whisky has been features in a number of films, including James Bond movies The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day. It also features in 2021 film Zack Snyder's Justice League.
