TALISKER THE WILD BLUE 2025 EDITION 48.2% 750ML

Talisker continues its support of ocean and coastal conservation with its latest release. The new(-ish) Talisker The Wild Blue is the result of a collaboration with the Blue Marine Foundation. The cause is worthwhile, but is the whisky? That’s what we’ll find out.

It’s not the first charitable endeavour by Talisker, which had a three year partnership with Parley. It resulted, among other things, in the Talisker Wilder Seas and this stupendously delicious 45-year-old Talisker – one of my whisky highlights of 2023.

Talisker The Wild Blue is the first tangible result – on the whisky side of things – from Talisker’s partnership with Blue Marine Foundation. The single malt was finished for 16 months in red wine casks sourced from South Africa’s coastal regions.

Each promotional bottle made for worldwide distribution represents a £3 donation, which is the very exact and almost cryptic wording from the press release. Regardless of how many bottles are sold, the total donation will amount to £112,608. Does that mean 37,536 total bottles were made – or is that the amount of “promotional bottles made for worldwide distribution”?

Nose: An immediate array of red fruits, presumably courtesy of the ex-wine casks. Hints of smoked strawberries, figs and sour cherries, as well as a hint of charred beef and incense. There’s a tingly touch of black pepper, slivers of tobacco leaves and some nutmeg as well.
Taste: A sweet, almost confectionary first impression, but then white pepper with smoked paprika powder, streaky bacon and red fruits. A slightly sticky, vinous note appears as well, but I suppose that can’t be prevented. Some dates as well.
Finish: Medium length. Sweetness, pepper, bonfire smoke. It has all the markers of a good Talisker.