Whisky Names Explained: Talisker Neist Point

For our column 'Whisky Names Explained', this time we head to the Isle of Skye. We'll explain in detail where the name Talisker Neist Point originates from.

Before we specifically delve into the name Neist Point, here's a brief history lesson: The Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It's a real tourist hotspot, with an incredibly beautiful landscape and a stunning rugged coastline. Because of this gorgeous scenery, the Isle of Skye is often used as a prime location for film and TV series shooting. Think of movies like Breaking the Waves and 47 Ronin, for example.

For the whisky lovers among us, Isle of Sky is synonymous with Talisker, a distillery established in 1830 and presently owned by Diageo.

A few years ago, Talisker released a travel retail whisky named Neist Point. It's distinguished by the image of a lighthouse on the bottle, as well as on the unfolding box. Neist Point is a whisky without a year indication. The Talisker whisky, on the other hand, has matured in rare barrels that have had a longer resting period, alongside some younger whiskies to create the desired taste experience. The result is a classic coastal and smoky Talisker with hints of pepper, vanilla, and pear.

You already guessed: something is going on with the lighthouse.

The Neist Point is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland and is located on the westernmost tip of Skye near the town of Glendale. The view of the tall cliffs and the lighthouse during sunset is quite spectacular, making it a prime destination for landscape photographers.

The lighthouse was first lit on November 1, 1909. A cable car is used to bring supplies to the lighthouse and the adjoining houses. Since 1990, the lighthouse has been remotely operated from the Northern Lighthouse Board headquarters in Edinburgh. The former keepers' homes are now privately owned. It's this region where Talisker originates, and this lighthouse has become iconic and pretty much the face of Talisker Neist Point.

Unfortunately, Talisker Neist Point is no longer being produced, but there are still plenty of other bottles on the market.