Talisker 2011 / 8 Year Old / Rum Finish / Special Releases 2020 Island Whisky

Noah Williams — Cask strength Talisker with a twist

8/10

Finally cracked mine open after sitting on it for ages. At 57.9% neat it's a firecracker — smoked banana, salted caramel, and that signature Talisker pepper on the finish. Added a splash of water and it really settled into this lovely balance of sweet and smoky. The 8 year age doesn't hold it back at all.

Priya Sharma — Cask strength Talisker with a twist

8/10

Finally cracked mine open after sitting on it for ages. At 57.9% neat it's a firecracker — smoked banana, salted caramel, and that signature Talisker pepper on the finish. Added a splash of water and it really settled into this lovely balance of sweet and smoky. The 8 year age doesn't hold it back at all.

Liam Anderson — Cask strength Talisker with a twist

8/10

Finally cracked mine open after sitting on it for ages. At 57.9% neat it's a firecracker — smoked banana, salted caramel, and that signature Talisker pepper on the finish. Added a splash of water and it really settled into this lovely balance of sweet and smoky. The 8 year age doesn't hold it back at all.

Benjamin Ross — One of my favourite Special Releases

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it blew me away. The nose is all sea spray and toasted coconut from the rum cask, then the palate hits you with dark toffee, cracked black pepper and coastal peat. I've tried a lot of the annual Special Releases and this 2011 vintage Talisker punches well above its age statement.

Yasmine Najjar — One of my favourite Special Releases

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it blew me away. The nose is all sea spray and toasted coconut from the rum cask, then the palate hits you with dark toffee, cracked black pepper and coastal peat. I've tried a lot of the annual Special Releases and this 2011 vintage Talisker punches well above its age statement.

Oscar Delgado — One of my favourite Special Releases

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it blew me away. The nose is all sea spray and toasted coconut from the rum cask, then the palate hits you with dark toffee, cracked black pepper and coastal peat. I've tried a lot of the annual Special Releases and this 2011 vintage Talisker punches well above its age statement.

Sibel Nur — Decent but the rum finish divides opinion

7/10

Shared this with a few mates and opinions were split. I get the appeal — the rum sweetness rounds off Talisker's rougher edges and the high ABV keeps it interesting. Personally I prefer my Talisker without the tropical notes. It's well made, just not what I reach for when I want that island character.

Daniel Oyama — Decent but the rum finish divides opinion

7/10

Shared this with a few mates and opinions were split. I get the appeal — the rum sweetness rounds off Talisker's rougher edges and the high ABV keeps it interesting. Personally I prefer my Talisker without the tropical notes. It's well made, just not what I reach for when I want that island character.

Mia Sundberg — Decent but the rum finish divides opinion

7/10

Shared this with a few mates and opinions were split. I get the appeal — the rum sweetness rounds off Talisker's rougher edges and the high ABV keeps it interesting. Personally I prefer my Talisker without the tropical notes. It's well made, just not what I reach for when I want that island character.

Samir Patel — Good but not quite worth the price

7/10

I enjoy this more than the standard 10 but at nearly a hundred quid for an 8 year old, it's a tough sell. The rum influence adds a nice sweetness that balances the smoke and brine, and the cask strength is welcome. Solid dram, just wish it had a couple more years in the cask to justify the cost.

Ayako Hirano — Good but not quite worth the price

7/10

I enjoy this more than the standard 10 but at nearly a hundred quid for an 8 year old, it's a tough sell. The rum influence adds a nice sweetness that balances the smoke and brine, and the cask strength is welcome. Solid dram, just wish it had a couple more years in the cask to justify the cost.

Tyler Bennet — Good but not quite worth the price

7/10

I enjoy this more than the standard 10 but at nearly a hundred quid for an 8 year old, it's a tough sell. The rum influence adds a nice sweetness that balances the smoke and brine, and the cask strength is welcome. Solid dram, just wish it had a couple more years in the cask to justify the cost.

Zara Al-Hassan — Rum cask works brilliantly here

8/10

The rum finish on this Talisker is something else — tropical fruit and brown sugar layered over that classic maritime peat. At 57.9% it's got serious punch but a few drops of water opens it right up. Picked this up from the 2020 Special Releases and I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Ethan Cooper — Rum cask works brilliantly here

8/10

The rum finish on this Talisker is something else — tropical fruit and brown sugar layered over that classic maritime peat. At 57.9% it's got serious punch but a few drops of water opens it right up. Picked this up from the 2020 Special Releases and I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Hannah Brooks — Rum cask works brilliantly here

8/10

The rum finish on this Talisker is something else — tropical fruit and brown sugar layered over that classic maritime peat. At 57.9% it's got serious punch but a few drops of water opens it right up. Picked this up from the 2020 Special Releases and I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.