One of the superb selection of whiskies from Diageo’s 2021 Special Releases, this expression is a Talisker single malt which has matured for eight years. It’s a bold and vibrant expression, having been matured in heavily peated refill casks, meaning this one packs a peaty punch – though you’ll also find plenty of mouth-watering fruit notes in there too. The theme of Diageo’s 2021 Special Releases is Legends Untold, and the bottlings all feature references to stories (real and imagined) surrounding the distillery. Given Talisker’s coastal home on the isle of Skye, it should come as no surprise to see a rather imposing sea monster upon its label.

Nose: Sweet notes initially, vanilla and sponge cake and then bonfires on the beach with salty seaweed notes. There’s stone fruit fruitiness here too.

Palate: Lots of black pepper with smoke, heather and honey notes and peaches.

Finish: Black pepper and chilli with a little caramel. Long and fiery.