The thing to look for in Talisker, as with all smoky whiskies, is sweetness that give the requisite balance to the drying effect of smoke. Underneath Talisker's smoke, which isn't as all-pervading as Lagavulin, is a sweet pear-like quality. When young there are notes of the land: heather, moor, sweet seaweed, and a finish that has a distinctive note of cracked black pepper.