The Isle of Skye Distillery finished the the third and final single malt whisky in the range in ice-fractured oak casks.
Talisker has unveiled the third and final release in its Xpedition Series, Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old. The latest addition to the range, which was inspired by the wild and its spirit of adventure, was finished in ice-fractured oak casks, a new experiment in whisky craft and a first for Talisker.
To create this new Scotch, Talisker took 12 heavily-charred American Oak casks on a glacial voyage into the frozen lands of Canada’s ice fields. A specialized Cooper removed the ends of the casks, exposing them to sub-zero temperatures and biting Arctic winds for 96 hours. This allowed the extreme cold to fracture the wood, which in turn increased the surface area of the casks, altering the liquid’s interactions with the barrels during the finishing period in Scotland.
This liquid is the final release in Talisker’s three-part Xpedition series. The first was Talisker Xpedition Oak 43-Year-Old released in 2021, aged in casks that used wooden staves which crossed the Atlantic. In 2022, the distillery released Talisker Forests of the Deep 44-Year-Old, finished in staves that were brought onboard an expedition to one of the world’s largest kelp forests and finished in barrels charred with sustainably farmed sea kelp.
The lineup is now complete with the release of Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old. The distillery’s first-ever 45-year-old Single Malt reveals unexplored richness, complexity, and a unique flavor attributed to the whisky’s travels into the splinters of its American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels.
“An outstanding Talisker, full-bodied, rounded and complex yet still vital and vivacious,” said Whisky Expert Charles Maclean MBE. “The distillery character is beautifully modified by age, but still very apparent.”
A golden amber in color, the rich, dry whisky offers maritime top notes of seaweed and iodine followed by aromas of lime, salt crystals, dried fruits, vanilla, and a light smoke. The palate is smooth and mouth-filling with flavors of toffee, salt, and pepper accompanied by a touch of chili. The finish is long and rich with chili pepper and salt joined by a faint scent of smoke.
The expedition to fracture the casks drew upon the force of the glacier to create a whisky marked by the wild. This journey to the ice fields was taken hand-in-hand with Talisker’s partner, Parley For the Oceans, and led by glacier scientist Dr. Alison Criscitiello. The team traversed across wild terrain and into ice caves, where Dr. Criscitiello helped the team understand how the planet’s ecosystems are interconnected, from the glacial fields of Canada to the sea surrounding the Talisker distillery’s home on the Isle of Skye off Northwest Scotland. This is the third year of Talisker’s collaboration with Parley to support their organization’s protection and preservation of marine ecosystems globally, with a portion of the funds from Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old sales donated to support this cause.
“From glacial ice to kelp forests, everything is interconnected and our world is changing faster than we know. Deep down, we all understand that we must rapidly transform how we create, think and live together,” said Cyrill Gutsch, Founder and CEO, Parley for the Oceans, “This limited-edition 45-Year-Old Whisky is an opportunity to tell the story of a fast-changing environment within a product shaped by time and nature, while supporting more of the climate research, activism and human connection that is urgently needed.”
Bottled at 49.8%, just 2,455 bottles of Talisker Glacial Edge Aged 45 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky have been made available (272 of which will be purchasable in the US) and carry an SRP of $5,000 per 700ml bottle. To inquire about purchasing, reach out to Diageo’s Rare & Exceptional Team at their official website.
In June, Talisker unveiled the 2023 limited-edition release of its 30 Year Old Single Malt whisky. Honoring its distillery home and legacy of seafood pairings, this Scotch was created to pay tribute to the Isle’s natural wonders.