I have to agree about the Talisker, if not the Dalmore. Talisker 10 is, to my palate, superb. It's got the salt sea wind in spades, and an Islay-like iodine air, but a lighter texture. It also has a warm malty sweetness and delicate smokiness as a counter-balance. It's this balance that makes me like it better than Lagavulin or Laphroaig in this family of smoky, iodine, greasy, salty malts. It puts me in the mind of that other salty and well-balanced malt triumph: Scapa 12. I've heard Caol Ila offers this same "lighter" Isla quality of balance, but I haven't had the pleasure. One more in the genre - although much lighter - is Bruichladdich 10. The salt is barely in evidence there, but the a heathery fruity sweetness takes its place. These latter two are from Islay as well. Well, it seems I'm on a Western Isle theme. So, let me throw in Oban 14 (it borders the same waters) although technically a Western Highland. It's got an echo of that smoke and salt (although a distant echo in this case). I recall viewing the "Classic Malts" marketing video and seeing that Talisker ages their casks in open sheds near the sea and that the visible casks evidenced a rime of wind-borne sea salt. I recall this image whenever the sea-weed & honey warmth of Talisker crosses my lips. It just doesn't get any better that that - so it's no wonder that the price has gone up 40% in two years. ---------------------------------- Some people don't like Talisker - Ralph Katzenell - a gentleman who frequently posts to these boards and who seems to have as polished a palate as anyone (and way more knowledge than most) vocally detests Talisker (and the aforementioned heavy Islays). It's wonderful that single malts have so many and varied flavors. I don't feel the same about Dalmore 12, however. I find it an acceptable Highland malt (as opposed to Speyside, Cambeltown, Lowland, Island, or Lowland) - but not exceptional (this is a personal and objective opinion). It has a light and pleasant fruity sweetness and bit of oak and smoke in the aftertaste with a light, dry, body. All for the good, but nothing stands out to light my fire. My favorite Highland malts are The Edradour 10, The Macallan 18, Royal Lochnagar 12, Aberlour 10, and Glentromie 12. Throw in the Speysides and I'd add Glen Rothes 16, and Cragganmore 12. Each of these has a particular balance that makes (I feel) and strong statement. Enjoy and sip slow.