Old Pulteney 2005 Flotilla

Old Pulteney – until recently the most northern distillery on the Scottish mainland – has quite a few expressions in the Flotilla series. We will try the one distilled in 2005. It matured for ten years on American bourbon barrels, but remains very pale nonetheless.

The nose is martime and sweet. On the one hand I get a truckload of vanilla and white fruit, while on the other I get some green notes that remind me of broth. Yes, it even smells a bit umami. Sausage bread? Strange, but not unpleasant.

It has a light body and is surprisingly sweet from the start. Vanilla returns, as does an apple, but sprinkled in white sugar – and lots of it. The maritime character is there, but cannot overcome the sweetness.

The finish is short and sweet, with a salty edge at the death.

A very quaffable malt from Wick, with little pooha.

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