Search
Close this search box.
Scotch

Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep

$4.00

OVERALL
RATING

10

Whisky Review: Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep

Tasting Notes:

About:
Bottled at 54.6% ABV. Aged 44 years and finished in marine charred casks. SRP £3,800 (about $4,700 USD at time of writing) per 700ml bottle.
Appearance:
This is a golden color with a hint of amber to it. It really coats the glass creating very thick legs.
Nose:
This smells like I am eating a smoked sea salt caramel while sitting next to the ocean. There is a little of a tropical fruit quality and the faintest bit of iodine under it all. This smells like a really good Talisker.
Palate:
The front of this is surprisingly clean for a Talisker, and free of the maritime quality. It has loads of sweetness on the front that brings to mind caramel and cotton candy. The mid palate is a huge transition and brings a lot more of the peated medicinal qualities. The finish isn’t quite like anything I have had before hitting notes of banana and juicy tropical fruit, toffee, charred oak, white pepper, and a bit of salinity. The peated quality of it builds up over time leaving the finish more smokey with each sip.
Finish:
Comments:
Talisker 10-year-old is one of my go-tos, and Talisker Dark Storm is one of my favorite picks from duty free stores when traveling. It was a true treat to have tried Talisker Forests of the Deep. While the limited availability and price point put this well outside the realm of accessible; this is a fantastic expression of Talisker Single Malt Scotch that anyone who likes Talisker and has both the resources and opportunity should take the chance to taste.

Editor’s Note: This whisky was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

According to Merriam-Webster, parley is the act of discussing terms with an enemy. An interesting name for an Non-Government Organization (NGO) looking to stop the destruction of our world’s oceans. But once you understand their mindset it makes a lot of sense. Now, why am I talking about an NGO and environmentalism? Well that is because Talisker has been working with Parley for the last three years and we now have the Talisker 44-year-old Forests of the Deep Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the market. And along with it, all the press drawing attention to the acts of conservation these organizations have achieved together. 

Parley, according to their website, “is the space where the creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.” It was founded in 2012 by Cyrill Gutsch. As an organization they focus largely on ocean plastic with their method A.I.R. (avoid, intercept, redesign). While they have worked with many partners their first big partnership was with Adidas and they have even gone on to partner with the World Bank. They put a focus on purpose as luxury, that is to say the purpose, intent, or action behind a product is what brings it value.

Talisker Distillery was founded in 1832 on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It was the only distillery on the island until 2017. They produce about 2.6 million liters annually. Talisker is part of the Diageo Rare Malt portfolio. Talisker releases a wide range of products including one-off and annual expressions. Their whisky is known for both its maritime quality and perceived spice.

Talisker x Parley is a collaboration between the two organizations that started in 2020. It revolved around two major parts. The first part is conservation efforts for 100 million square meters of marine ecosystems. The second is the release of Talisker 44-year-old Forests of the Deep Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This is one of the products Parley uses purpose to push into luxury, though a 44-year-old age statement sure helps that a long. 

Talisker 44-year-old Forests of the Deep Single Malt Scotch Whisky is finished in marine charred casks. The wood for these marine charred casks were brought on an expedition with Parley to the Cape of Good Hope. It is here where they did some diving in one of the kelp forests they are protecting. The barrels were then charred using sustainably farmed sea kelp and wood shavings from the staves. I can’t even begin to say what this barrel contributes as I have never known a barrel to be charred with kelp. What I can say is that I experienced a superb expression of Talisker.

Talisker 44 Year Old review
We review Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep, an over four decades old Scotch single malt whisky finished in “marine charred” casks. (image via Diageo)

Tasting Notes: Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep

Vital Stats: Bottled at 54.6% ABV. Aged 44 years and finished in marine charred casks. SRP £3,800 (about $4,700 USD at time of writing) per 700ml bottle. 

Appearance: This is a golden color with a hint of amber to it. It really coats the glass creating very thick legs. 

Nose: This smells like I am eating a smoked sea salt caramel while sitting next to the ocean. There is a little of a tropical fruit quality and the faintest bit of iodine under it all. This smells like a really good Talisker.  

Palate: The front of this is surprisingly clean for a Talisker, and free of the maritime quality. It has loads of sweetness on the front that brings to mind caramel and cotton candy. The mid palate is a huge transition and brings a lot more of the peated medicinal qualities. The finish isn’t quite like anything I have had before hitting notes of banana and juicy tropical fruit, toffee, charred oak, white pepper, and a bit of salinity. The peated quality of it builds up over time leaving the finish more smokey with each sip. 

Search
  • Latest News
  • Latest Reviews
  • Latest News
  • Latest Reviews
  • Editors Picks