1) Robert Louis Stevenson the great author (‘Treasure Island’, ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’) drank Talisker. From his poem “The Scotsman’s Return From Abroad” (‘Underwoods’, 1887):

“The king o’drinks as I conceive it
Talisker, Isla, or Glenlivet”

{Glenlivet made the list, most certainly, because it completed the couplet rhyme…}

2) The Talisker distillery has an oyster eating ritual, inspired by the belief that the gentle maritime notes of the whisky are heightened by the rich saltiness of the oysters!
a) Take a sip of Talisker
b) Eat the oyster (of which there aplenty on the Isle of Skye!)
c) Pour Talisker INTO THE SHELL and drink (for a REAL taste of the sea!)

3) Prior to Talisker’s inclusion as founding member of the Classic Malts Selection in 1998 (also before the founding of the KOTQ-Chicago in January, 2000) was predominantly on independently bottled 8yo. Upon establishment in the Classic Malts this was upped to a 10yo distillery bottling that we, essentially, take for granted as a bedrock of single malt expressions.