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This category could just as easy be called Islands whisky. Maritime whiskies contain a salty, briny flavour, which many believe comes from the maturation of the whisky taking place so close to the sea. A popular category, these whiskies are often still a little smoky, but not as intense as the juggernauts of Islay.
Talisker is a great distillery based on the Isle of Skye, which is where this, their most approachable single malt whisky, gets its name. The smoke, salt and spicy of Talisker is still present, but it’s presented in a very friendly fashion, with sweet apple and toasted oak notes in the background. Give this one a go and let us know what you think.
This is every bit as approachable as the Talisker, but I think the sweet and soft peaty notes that the distillery is famous for make it very different, and so a crucial must-try for this category.
This is still a little salty, but maybe a little less intensely than the Talisker. I taste the malt and oak flavours underneath, with notes of honey and citrus on top for a well-rounded full-flavoured single malt Scotch.
All things Talisker. I love the 10-year-old, the flagship of this distillery. It is bold and brash, with notes of sea salt, peat smoke and apple, with a lovely, unique peppery note that I’ve only tasted in Talisker. The Storm from Talisker is a bit of a brute, big and beautiful, if you like the first two, you should definitely do battle with this one.
Old Pulteney make a 12-year-old single malt, that is extremely soft for this category. Still a salty one, but light and fruity. If you liked some of the above whiskies, but fancy a softer sip this may be the one for you.
