A Well-Travelled Whisky

Talisker’s 43-year-old Xpedition Oak: The Atlantic Challenge might be a mouthful to say but it’s a delicious mouthful at that.

Finished in casks that included wooden staves that have crossed the Atlantic Ocean comes this incredibly rare single malt scotch whisky.

The distillery is only releasing 1830 bottles of the Xpedition – its oldest whisky to date, in honour of Talisker’s founding year and encapsulates the adventure of the founding MacAskill brothers who rowed from the Isle of Eigg to the shores of Isle of Skye.

Inspired by the journey of the MacAskill brothers, adventurer James Aiken undertook a 5353km mission across the Atlantic bringing with him a selection of wooden staves and casks on the expedition.

Once back on dry land, these staves were returned to Scotland to complete the final maturation of the Talisker 43-Year-Old Xpedition Oak: The Atlantic Challenge.

After all its travels, the coveted whisky is a deep clear amber colour and opens to a slightly spicy, fruit-filled top note of bruised apple accompanied by notes of varnished wood, salt and a waxy base.

The whisky enjoys a full bodied mouth-feel and sweet, rich palate that n tasting, delivers the nameplate’s peppery sea salt, smoky sweetness. It is then lightly drying and holds exceptionally long finish.

Later this year, bottle number one of Talisker 43-Year-Old Xpedition Oak: The Atlantic Challenge will be entered into an auction, with all proceeds donated to Parley for the Oceans. Parley and Talisker are on a mission to protect and preserve 100 million square metres of marine ecosystems around the world by 2023

Available nationwide from Dan Murphy’s on September 20, each bottle purchased will be accompanied by a piece of one of the very staves that travelled the Atlantic Ocean

RRP: $5750, 700ml (49.7% ABV); danmurphys.com.au