Talisker 8 Year Old 1980s - 75cl 45.8%

Talisker 8 yr old. Tasted in1977-1979, at 8 yrs old. This was easily my favourite before it was replaced by the smoother, much more rounded and tamer 10 year old version around 30 years ago. All I can say is that the 8yr old did every one fine from 1831 to the mid Eighties and was said to have been the favourite tipple of Robert Louis Stevenson. Talisker is the component malt in Johnny Walker Red Label and supplies the peppery notes and hotness. Dark gold in colour, pungent, briny, like a fresh oyster and malty sweet on the nose. The whisky explodes with flavour in the mouth, grabs you by the lapels and shakes you, a shock to the system, with Island smokiness, sweet and sour malty notes, then finishes very dry and hot and very peppery. Legendary stuff, a large glass of this and you could probably carry a horse around the Town Square for a bet. Locally described in The Isle of Skye as the ‘Lava of The Cuillins’. I must point out that I drank several bottles of this in the late 70’s when it would have been 8 or so years old and not an aged bottle. Very nice and about £5-£6 in those days in my little local whisky shop in Brewer Street, Soho. Happy days.