My first whisky release of the month was of a 3 yo American craft malt whiskey, the Zeppelin Bend from New Holland Distillers in Michigan. For the second, let’s go across the Atlantic to Skye for a much older single malt whisky. This is the Talisker 30 that was released in 2017. It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Talisker 30. The last was a bottle from the 2015 release, which I quite liked. Before that I’d reviewed the 2006 and 2012 releases. Of those three only the 2006 was at cask strength. The last of the cask strength releases of the Talisker 30 came out in 2010, I think (I have a bottle of that in reserve). After that, all the releases have been at Talisker’s standard 45.8%. Despite the lowered strength, I had quite enjoyed my bottle of the 2015 release and I’d hoped this will be in a similar vein. Early pours were promising and now that the bottle has been open for a week or so, here are my notes.

Talisker 30, 2017 Release (45.8%; from my own bottle)

Nose: Lovely maritime nose with brine, kelp, oysters; mineral smoke below all of that. As it sits there’s more coriander seed in the brine and there’s a papery note as well (or is it damp cloth?). With more time it gets sweeter here as well (orange). A few drops of water makes the orange more acidic and melds it nicely with the salt.

Palate: Sweeter arrival but otherwise as indicated by the nose. Big burst of cracked pepper as I swallow. Very good drinking strength and texture at 45.7%. With time some citrus emerges (lime) and there’s some of that damp cloth from the nose as well. Water makes it brighter and more acidic and emphasizes the salt.

Finish: Long. The pepper and the smoke hang out the longest; salt emerges again at the end. Even saltier with water.

Comments: Not quite as great as the 2015 release but this is very good indeed. I’ll report if there’s much change in either direction as the bottle stays open.

Rating: 88 points.