To celebrate National Oysters on the Half Shell Day, Talisker has unveiled its own whisky and oyster pairing guide. Located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, the distillery is perched between the sea and The Oyster Shed, which serves freshly harvested oysters right at the source. The brand is known for its close relationship with its surrounding environment and last year teamed up with the Billion Oyster Project in an effort to prevent oyster shells from ending up in landfills and instead using them to build oyster reef habitat.
For consuming your Talisker whisky and oysters, the distillery has a few recommendations:
A FEW DROPS OF TALISKER ON THE OYSTER
Dribble two or three drops of Talisker on top of your oyster
PAIRED WITH A NEAT DRAM
Wash down your oyster with an ounce and a half neat pour of Talisker
PAIRED WITH A COCKTAIL
Uncover the many maritime notes of Talisker by mixing in a cocktail
- Try a Talisker Cracked Black Pepper Highball
- 1.5 oz Talisker Storm
- Top with soda water
- Garnish with cracked black pepper
- Enjoy!
OUT OF THE SHELL
Recycle your now-empty bivalve by sipping half an ounce of Talisker straight from the shell
As for choosing which whisky two pair with the tasty bivalves and what flavors to expect, Talisker says:
TALISKER 10 YEAR OLD + ATLANTIC (EAST COAST) OYSTERS
Talisker 10 Year Old + Ninigret Pond Oysters
Hints of smokiness and strong barley-malt flavors that bring out the briny sweetness of the oyster. A sweet, clean finish.
Talisker 10 Year Old + Duxbury, MA Oysters
Notes of butterscotch play off the whisky’s distinct dried-fruit flavor, swiftly followed by soft peppery notes at the back of the mouth.
TALISKER 10 YEAR OLD + OSTREA OYSTERS
Talisker 10 Year Old + Olympia Oysters
A nose of peat-smoke, seawater salt and citrus sweetness play beautifully off all the earthy, meaty, salty goodness.
Talisker 10 Year Old + European Flat Oysters
A robust sensory experience with lots of minerality for a gamier experience offered by two jewels native to Scotland.
TALISKER STORM + PACIFIC (WEST COAST) OYSTERS
Talisker Storm + Tomales Bay, CA Oysters
Grassiness and a satisfying hint of brine and earthy flavors are balanced perfectly by the rich smoke and intense spice of the whisky.
Talisker Storm + Eld Inlet Oysters
Flavors of kelp, toasted nori and umami paired with the whisky’s tongue-coating sweetness & nutty smokiness reveal a more rustic and gamier canvas.
