Talisker 57 Degrees North Old version (700ml)

In its own special island style, it's hard not to agree that Talisker earns a place amongst the very best whiskies in Scotland. It's a statement confirmed by the likes of Jim Murray, with distillery bottlings averaging scores in the low nineties - an average similar to other benchmarks such as Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Highland Park and Laphroaig. Lost in a deluge of recent no age statement releases (Storm, Dark Storm, Skye and all the others), 57° North demands revisiting more than most. If laymen's reviews are anything to go by, this ranks as one of the most beloved whiskies of the last decade. Named for the same latitude the distillery is located on, the prospect of a Talisker at this ABV is exciting. And while 'special strength' isn't exactly cask strength, it's very close. Cask strength whiskies offer an extra dimension of flavour compared to their diluted stablemates. The careful, progressive addition of water at your discretion - instead of a predetermined amount by the distillery - allows one to fully discover everything that a malt has to offer. This rides the tidal wave of 57% in an effortless way.