Thank you for the video and discussion. So true about the price increases, we the consumer have the power to shift this trend. Let them sit on the shelves.
100% agree that the new branding really made it look a lot cheaper! I can only see Talisker following a short term design trend tied in with the massive inflated price will be a huge downfall for them. You alternative is spot on and I would say leagues ahead of Talisker 18. Brilliant video and cheers to the next one!
Thanks a lot for the interesting reasonable review! Just stumble upon it and subscribed at once. I gotta tell ya ,buddy -it's a common thing across the liquor's world - they've pushed up prices for whiskies and all that stuff all over the world and of course here in Moscow (Russia) too and that does piss me off! But the quality of products leaves a lot to be desired . Unfortunately there's nothing we coud do about it but look for substitutes as do many of us, whisky drinkers). So that's why we're trying to find smth.that is way way cheaper). Best regards from Moscow , Russia, slainte!🥃🤝
I think the new branding looks better than the old one. I also think the 10 is absolutely a banger for the price (its 25ish € here sometimes). The 18 is ridiculous and I dont even want to try it anymore. Thumps up for the Ledaig 10 and 18 are absolute bangers! I personally still think the 10 is barely worse compared to the 18 tho :) So I m grabbing that instead!
I honestly placed the Ledaig 18 above the Talisker, at any price. It is well rounded, bags of flavour and complexity. The Talisker for leaves me wanting more, but the chill-filtration holds it back. Similar to the Highland Park 18 (which now looks like a bargain!). I will not replace my Talisker but there are many 18's I have stocked up on.
Great alternative choice, Ledaig 18 is one of my favourite whiskies - in fact almost any OB or IB Ledaig is worth a taste. It was not such a great whisky in general a while back but it has really improved over the last decade.
Ledaig has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years but particularly over the last 5 years. Diageo have dropped the ball with Talisker forgetting that there are other options. The same has to apply to Glendronach and Ardbeg - all leading the charge to kill a market in an industry that has, in relative terms, only just got on its feet.
Thanks for this review. I think the obvious alternatives to Talisker 18 are: Talisker 10 (old bottling) and Talisker Distiller's Edition. Why leave the distillery when you are looking for that unmistakable Talisker profile? Unfortunately I've never tried the 18 and at the current prices here in the states, I likely never will.
My bottle of Ledaig 18 took a while to open up and by the bottom I thought it was very high quality. One of my favourites but even that is going up in price in my market now so one by one they are just becoming to expensive.
Saw this explanation on another video I just watch and thought of you! Hopefully this clears things up The 46.3% ABV actually comes from old UK proof unit. ABV = 4 times proof divided by 7. The tradition of theses manufacturers used to be 81 proof, which gives you 81*4/7 = 46.3%. Talisker for example is 80 proof = 45.8%.
I done exactly the same , grabbed a bottle last year at £75 , its gone now cause i would'nt pay the hiked price ever , ledaig 18 is better quality / value imho
Have you tried Toraphaig? Toured May 2022, beautiful new distillery, sourced a bottle in the States and enjoy it, had a tour booked with Talisker but when arrived only a white mobile trailer for tasting so they are on my bad list.
I have tried Torabhaig and I’m very excited to see where they go and how they develop. I’m guessing the white trailer was when Talisker were renovating, which is an understandable frustration, especially when you have made the trip to Skye.
@@thewhiskyloft trying to select a representative whisky from each region. Isles, Highlands, Speyside covered, tough one for Lowlands as not much to choose from in States, not sure about Islay either Any recommendations on those two? Would rather have non chill and no coloring but might be tough choice
@@brentkasl6510 Funnily enough, I was putting this together for a beginners tasting I've been asked to do and struggled too. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the answer to the Lowlands is. I would have said Bladnoch 10, but that isn't available anymore and I haven't tried any Bladnoch in a little while. The one that keeps coming back to me is Glenkinchie, which is Diageo so all the bad things that comes with. For Islay, I landed on Port Charlotte as it ticks all the right boxes.
Talisker doesn't use Islay peat (presumably Highland peat) while Tobermory use Islay peat. As far as I know Tobermory are the only non-Islay distillery to use Islay peat, but I will stand corrected if someone knows of another.
BRING BACK WHISKY LOFT!
Thank you for the video and discussion. So true about the price increases, we the consumer have the power to shift this trend. Let them sit on the shelves.
100% agree that the new branding really made it look a lot cheaper! I can only see Talisker following a short term design trend tied in with the massive inflated price will be a huge downfall for them. You alternative is spot on and I would say leagues ahead of Talisker 18. Brilliant video and cheers to the next one!
Cheers Jeff. Thanks for your kind feedback, especially from a 1k follower man like yourself. Means a lot.
Thanks a lot for the interesting reasonable review! Just stumble upon it and subscribed at once. I gotta tell ya ,buddy -it's a common thing across the liquor's world - they've pushed up prices for whiskies and all that stuff all over the world and of course here in Moscow (Russia) too and that does piss me off! But the quality of products leaves a lot to be desired . Unfortunately there's nothing we coud do about it but look for substitutes as do many of us, whisky drinkers). So that's why we're trying to find smth.that is way way cheaper). Best regards from Moscow , Russia, slainte!🥃🤝
I agree with 100% ,you just got another subscriber🥃
Felt like I was having a conversation with you, subbed!
Thanks Mikael. That’s really great to hear. Exactly what I hoped. Glad my slightly opinionated demeanour doesn’t put you off!
I think the new branding looks better than the old one. I also think the 10 is absolutely a banger for the price (its 25ish € here sometimes). The 18 is ridiculous and I dont even want to try it anymore. Thumps up for the Ledaig 10 and 18 are absolute bangers! I personally still think the 10 is barely worse compared to the 18 tho :) So I m grabbing that instead!
I honestly placed the Ledaig 18 above the Talisker, at any price. It is well rounded, bags of flavour and complexity. The Talisker for leaves me wanting more, but the chill-filtration holds it back. Similar to the Highland Park 18 (which now looks like a bargain!). I will not replace my Talisker but there are many 18's I have stocked up on.
Great alternative choice, Ledaig 18 is one of my favourite whiskies - in fact almost any OB or IB Ledaig is worth a taste. It was not such a great whisky in general a while back but it has really improved over the last decade.
Ledaig has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years but particularly over the last 5 years.
Diageo have dropped the ball with Talisker forgetting that there are other options. The same has to apply to Glendronach and Ardbeg - all leading the charge to kill a market in an industry that has, in relative terms, only just got on its feet.
Very interesting comparison between these fine bottlings. Though haven't tried both of them.
Thanks for this review. I think the obvious alternatives to Talisker 18 are: Talisker 10 (old bottling) and Talisker Distiller's Edition. Why leave the distillery when you are looking for that unmistakable Talisker profile? Unfortunately I've never tried the 18 and at the current prices here in the states, I likely never will.
My bottle of Ledaig 18 took a while to open up and by the bottom I thought it was very high quality. One of my favourites but even that is going up in price in my market now so one by one they are just becoming to expensive.
Saw this explanation on another video I just watch and thought of you! Hopefully this clears things up
The 46.3% ABV actually comes from old UK proof unit. ABV = 4 times proof divided by 7. The tradition of theses manufacturers used to be 81 proof, which gives you 81*4/7 = 46.3%. Talisker for example is 80 proof = 45.8%.
Well there you go. That's really interesting and exposes my ignorance. That makes a lot of sense and is well worth knowing.
@@thewhiskyloft Fascinating isn't it, love the whisky community and the knowledge they share on TH-cam :)
Alternatives to Springbank please!
Agreed the new Talisker label is terrible
I done exactly the same , grabbed a bottle last year at £75 , its gone now cause i would'nt pay the hiked price ever , ledaig 18 is better quality / value imho
Have you tried Toraphaig? Toured May 2022, beautiful new distillery, sourced a bottle in the States and enjoy it, had a tour booked with Talisker but when arrived only a white mobile trailer for tasting so they are on my bad list.
I have tried Torabhaig and I’m very excited to see where they go and how they develop.
I’m guessing the white trailer was when Talisker were renovating, which is an understandable frustration, especially when you have made the trip to Skye.
@@thewhiskyloft trying to select a representative whisky from each region.
Isles, Highlands, Speyside covered, tough one for Lowlands as not much to choose from in States, not sure about Islay either
Any recommendations on those two? Would rather have non chill and no coloring but might be tough choice
@@brentkasl6510 Funnily enough, I was putting this together for a beginners tasting I've been asked to do and struggled too.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the answer to the Lowlands is. I would have said Bladnoch 10, but that isn't available anymore and I haven't tried any Bladnoch in a little while. The one that keeps coming back to me is Glenkinchie, which is Diageo so all the bad things that comes with. For Islay, I landed on Port Charlotte as it ticks all the right boxes.
Looks like Glenkinchie is available locally to fit the Lowlands gap, hate to as it goes against my Integrity focus
Ledaig is a great replacement, and so is Ardnamurchan.
Talisker doesn't use Islay peat (presumably Highland peat) while Tobermory use Islay peat. As far as I know Tobermory are the only non-Islay distillery to use Islay peat, but I will stand corrected if someone knows of another.
That’s super interesting. I guess that explains the very different characters of the peat in both these whiskies.
@@thewhiskyloft I believe Bruichladdich don't use Islay peat for PC and Octomore.
How about Loch Lomond 18?
I've actually not tried it . Once I get the chance I will give it a go. It may not work as a direct comparison here as I believe it is unpeated.
the price has gone up for no reason , just buy of the indy bottlers for less than half the price or less , and better quality ;;