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30.01.2025
Whisky Evolution: Talisker, Bushmills, Laphroaig, and Highland Park Leading the Way
Talisker 10, photo credits Damian Baran
Discovering Talisker: A Journey Through Taste and Design
In 2021, after watching a whisky-themed film dedicated to the Talisker distillery, I felt the urge to try for myself what flavors lie hidden in a bottle and what whisky tasting is truly about.
At that time, Talisker was one of the first single malts I had the opportunity to try. For me, it wasn’t just about the taste; the visual appearance of the bottle also mattered. Talisker periodically updates its graphic design, but the bottle itself remains unchanged.
Do these changes always turn out for the better? It’s a matter of perspective. Personally, the transition from the simple white label with blue printing and golden accents to a more modern design with orange highlights brought, in my opinion, slightly less elegance. But did the whisky itself change? It remains a solid classic straight from Islay.
What other companies have made changes recently?
Bushmills
One of the brands from the Irish whisky world is Bushmills.
I love exploring flavors, which naturally means comparing whiskies from both nearby and distant parts of the world. This time, we’re staying relatively close, landing in Ireland, specifically in the town of Bushmills, from which the whisky takes its name. Produced since 1608, it continues to this day. My first bottle was a Bushmills 10-year-old single malt, still bearing the old graphic design, which was updated in 2021.
The change was significant, affecting the bottle, the label, and the box. This transformation involved several bottles, and opinions about the new look quickly made waves in the whisky world.
Glenglassaugh & Glendronach
Since then, there have been many changes in the whisky world, with recent years marking a peak moment for rebranding and attracting new customers. Let’s start with Glenglassaugh, which introduced a new bottle style, and Glendronach, which revamped its entire presentation, from new bottles to updated labels. As they themselves emphasize, they aim to position themselves as a more premium brand.
Laphroaig & Bruichladdich
Next, there are distilleries like Laphroaig and Bruichladdich, which not only sought to change their design but also contribute to a better world.
Highland Park
The latest distillery to undergo a redesign, set for 2025, is Highland Park. They recently unveiled new bottles that, well, let’s be honest, have little in common with the Viking-inspired style that previously adorned their bottles.
What are your thoughts on this? Which changes have made the biggest impression on you?
About the author
Damian Baran
Hooked since a Talisker 10 in 2021, I've tasted over 800 whiskies and love Islay peat and independent bottlings.
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