Serge94分的大力斯可35

After the rare and quite fabulous 34yo 1975 for Asia from last year, here’s a 35! Colour: gold.

Nose: Hey hey, this one really reminds me of the older ones from the early 1950s (G&M’s), with this very peculiar combination of soft almondy touches (between marzipan and linseed oil) and a sooty smokiness plus notes of quince jelly, plums, tangerines and leather cream. Soft and as complex as an old Montrachet (if I may say so, sorry about all these wine references but its quicker and easier). With water: s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g. It’s hard to imagine a nicer nose, unless you’re fiercely against peat, zesty tropical fruits and some kind of almond(-iness).

Mouth (neat): Ah yes! Many old peaters tend to lose their, well, peat when becoming older but that’s not the case here, not at all. So it’s very peaty and medicinal, with a perfect balance, a perfect mouth feel and a perfect fruitiness, blending passion fruits and lemons. Extremely good – but that was to be expected. Great feeling of fullness, it’s all perfectly integrated, like in Mona Lisa’s portrait. More oomph on the palate than on the nose (not Mona Lisa’s). With water: please call our friends from the anti-maltoporn brigade!

Finish: Maybe not the longest but the freshness is impressive. Oysters, pepper and lemon, the perfect combo. Smoked fish in the aftertaste.

Comments: Punters like me will probably talk more about the new Port Ellen, the new Brora and the new Lagavulin, but this Talisker has got this je ne sais quoi that the others don’t quite have, or have to a lesser degree. Maybe that’s what we could call ‘an elegant fullness’?  SGP:566 - 94 points.