Scotch

Whisky Review: Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep

We review Talisker 44-Year Forests of the Deep, an over four decades old Scotch single malt whisky finished in "marine charred" casks.

OVERALL RATING

10
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Talisker 44 Year Old review

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 whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Ian Arnold

Ian Arnold brings eight years of bartending expertise to the table, having honed his skills in renowned establishments across California, Australia, and Portland. His most recent position behind the bar was at the esteemed Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library. A dedicated member of the Oregon Bartenders' Guild's leadership team, Ian also served as a judge for numerous cocktail competitions. Currently working in the IT field, he continues to delight guests with his bartending prowess. In his leisure time, Ian enjoys playing board games and savoring the complexities of Japanese whisky.

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