Old Pulteney 12 Year Old

NOSE: The nose is very complex indeed! It has two main components working harmoniously together: a sweet one and a savory one, with the sweet one being slightly more prominent. Very delicate and sugary on the nose. Vanilla whipped cream mixed with green apples, golden raisins and orange flesh with lemon zest and lemon pith on top of it all. There's also a touch of sourness which reminds me of Greek yogurt with some fruits in it. As time goes by, you may also notice some caramelized popcorn, freshly baked pastry,creme brulee, and overripe bananas. With all this harmonious sweetness you're getting a subtle, yet quite noticeable note of fresh sea water which reminds me a lot of Talisker 10. A hint of pickled cucumber, fresh ginger and pepper. Don't give this one too much air time, since it gets too zesty on the nose for my liking. 23/25

TASTE: a lot of vanilla, creamy, malty, dried fruits: golden raisins and dried apricots with some delightful marzipan and a pinch of salt. A very balanced combination of fruits with understated saltiness. Don't let this one sit for too long, since the taste tends to get more zesty. 22/25

FINISH: soft, freshly baked croissant with toasted almonds, soft spices. Medium-long and delicate finish. 21/25

BALANCE: 24/25

THE empty glass smells of yeasty pizza dough.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: In my opinion, this whisky is perfectly balanced from beginning to end. It offers a lot of complexity. I can see why Ralfy spoke so highly of this seemingly basic mass-produced single malt. Delicious!

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