Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
Old Pulteney before New Pulteney
4 781
Review by @conorrob
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall81
Show rating data charts
Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Old Pulteney
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Highland
- ABV: 40%
The marketing line on their website reads - On the most northerly shores of Scotland, where the North Sea meets the Caithness coast, there is a town; home to a whisky which captures the very essence of its location. This is Wick and we are Old Pulteney; the maritime malt. All true ... not too pretentious. I like Old Pulteney, and not just for their humility.
Nose Woody sweet caramel. Maple syrup and buttery pancakes. Red apples, mown grass and a slight waft of salty brine.
Palate The briney sea salt is stronger here, but well balanced with syrupy caramel adding sweetness whilst gently spiced wood notes add a certain complexity to the whole experience. A great palate that would have held up better at a higher abv.
Finish Fresh apple and an earthy mown grass note come to the fore before quickly fading to sea air accompanied by maybe a fresh wood fires smoke from a distance.
A great, inexpensive dram that can do little wrong in my book. There’s enough complexity here to keep me interested whilst keeping a certain level of familiarity. Wonderful dram from the last style of bottles, I just wish the distillery had kept its old run of bottles (17,21) rather than moving to mostly NAS.
Final word: YUM
Slainte
Find where to buy Old Pulteney whisky
@conorrob thanks for your review. I was a founding member of the Connosr Old Pulteney fan club about 8 years ago, before it became popular around here and before Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21 yo World Whisky of the Year.
Better at higher ABV? Isn't everything? We get Old Pulteney 12 yo at 43% on this side of the Atlantic. I've never tasted it at 40% ABV.
Cheers, Conor!