Talisker Storm is an intensely flavorful whisky and I love it. Though that’s not the aspect of this dramatically named release from Talisker that is getting folks riled, it’s how old it is. Or rather that they don’t know how old it is because it, like an increasing amount of whisky, is NAS (No Age Statement) whisky and without knowing how old the juice is some people are having a hard time justifying the $70 – $75 price tag. To that I say… who the hell cares?
Age in whisky, as in life, is just a number and it’s all about the maturity. Does a higher age statement sometimes mean that it’s a better whisky? Yes. Does it always? No. For instance I like the MaCallan 12 more than I do the 18 and I don’t think the 18 is worth the money and neither is the 25 for that matter. In the end it all comes down to how it tastes and the Storm tastes pretty damn good.
Talisker Storm Review
ABV: 45.8%
Price: $73
Distiller: Talisker
EYE
Gold with caramel hints
NOSE
A velvet smokiness comes first followed by an amazingly inviting combination of tropical citrus, honey, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch pudding, saltwater taffy and a touch of brine.
TASTE
What can I say other than wow. Smoky caramel, orange zest, vanilla cake, Werther’s Original, smoked ham, malt, smoked paprika and a host of other fantastic savory notes. There is a buttery quality to it that is as pleasant as can be.
FEEL
Silken like melted caramel with nearly no burn
FINISH
The peat seems to kick up a bit in the aftertaste but gives way to a nice smoky grain and wood for a medium finish.
BALANCE BODY FEEL
The Talisker Storm is well balanced with all of the flavors and components moving side by side in a symphony of aromas and flavors. A medium body and a warm smooth mouthfeel make it a pleasure to drink.
OVERALL
For the sake of my bank account I wish it was a bit cheaper, but on a value scale I think it’s completely worth the price. The label may be missing how many times the world went around the sun since it was distilled, but it tastes good and has the maturity, balance and restraint that I look for in a good whisky and in the end that’s all that matters. So cheers!
SCORE: 90/100
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Talisker Storm: Last Glass Update (09-07-14)
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Oh Talisker Storm. I love you… but you’ve turned on me a bit. Here in this last glass of the bottle the caramel and vanilla notes have become much more noticeable. They have begun to seep deeper and deeper into the overall character of the whisky with the fading of the briny peat and this dram has ended up building something slightly different than what was there before.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a fantastic whisky and I’m thoroughly enjoying this glass right now, but the sweet notes are edging up higher and higher and the peat and smoke that was initially so prevalent is beginning to fade. It’s something that I’m enjoying a hair less than when I started this journey.
As always, I sat down with this last glas and gave it a complete run through just like I would if I were reviewing it when first opened. Looking at my notes from the last couple months and comparing them to this last run though, it’s easy to taste and smell that slow creep in quality for the last few glasses. Comparing and considering everything I’ve ended up docking it a point giving it an end score of 90.
No matter though, because it still ranks in the Very Good range and is a whisky I enjoy through and through and wouldn’t hesitate at all to suggest you give it a go if you like smoky scotches.
I had never heard of Talisker, saw their Storm it for the first time on the shelf at one of the local liquor stores, and thought I’d give it a try. It was a paltry $35 with tax, and at that price point, I’m blown away. I’m fairly new to single malts, this is my first experience with a smoky Scotch, and I’m loving it!
Nice, cheers!
Regarding your last glass: That’s how storms come and go. Forceful and strong at the start, then they dissipate, then the sky clears and the sun comes out. Just keep your eye out for the next Storm. It’s a comin’.
Ha, cheers!
China copies everything in the USA… make sure it’s the original or you spent $25 on something that looks like it.
It’s funny, Diageo sells it at a price around $25 in China
Nice review. I’m with you. I think this is a great whisky. I’m not sure if I’d have been so adamant at the 2014 price point –as that would have put it mighty close to Talisker 10 –an expression I prefer by a bit. But at the current $40, this is an absolute steal!
Agreed, $40 is a good price for this whisky. It’s a nice simple sipping whisky with just enough peaty character to keep things interesting. Cheers!
$40?! I literally *just* bought this and paid $68. I’m just getting into scotch and so far I’ve been rather limited in the more quality ones – Lagavulin (which I only had a shot of at a dinner), Laphroaig Quarter Cask and now this. I couldn’t bring myself to spend $90 on the Lagavulin and I just finished the Laphroaig so I thought I would take a plunge and try this one. I enjoy it but not as much as the Laphroaig quarter cask. It’s hard to justify the $68 price point when the Quarter Cask is around $10 cheaper.
Wow, yeah if it was $10 more than QC I wouldn’t get it either. I regularly see it in Los Angeles for $40-$50 and saw it in Costco once for about $36.
I think I just paid $42 for Storm in Oklahoma City. Lagavulin 16 is about $77 here. In fact, here are my favorites and their Midwest prices:
Laphroaig 10 — $42
Laphroaig Quarter Cask — $50
Laphroaig 15 — $75
Ardbeg 10 — $42
Ardbeg Corryvracken — $77
Ardbeg Kelpie — $95
Lagavulin 8 — $55
Bowmore 12 — $40
The others in my collection are Highlands and Speysides. I like the Lagavulin 8 better than the 16, which is too mellow. The Talisker is less aggressive.
Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
For those who really enjoy this single malt – it’s on sale at Ace Spirits outta the Twin Cities in Minn.
http://www.acespirits.com/buy-talisker-storm-single-malt-buy-single-malt-scotch.html?utm_source=09.23.16+EBLAST&utm_campaign=09.23.16+Eblast&utm_medium=email