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Old Pulteney 12 Year Old

Old Pulteney before New Pulteney

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@conorrobReview by @conorrob

20th Jan 2019

0

Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
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  • Overall
    81

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

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

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7 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@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!

5 years ago 4Who liked this?

@conorrob
conorrob commented

@Victor i did not know that. It’s one of my favourite distilleries, weirdly it’s the 17 that was favourite of the range for me rather than the 21 .... I’m looking forward to seeing what the 15, 18 and 25 bring to the table.

Haha yes I make you right there ... it’s only 40% here (or atleast this bottling is) and I’m not complaining honestly. The price (£30 ish) makes this real good value for money even at 40%... but the 43% you mention makes my mouth water a little....

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@conorrob - I have a soft spot for the 12 and think it's one of the best vfm whiskys in the UK. I've had bottles better than others but I'd always score this at least 83-4. Be interesting to see if the new versions are as good.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@conorrob In whisky bibles after he had named Old Pulteney 21 yo the World Whisky of the Year Jim Murray commented that in subsequent years he considered the Old Pulteney 17 yo to be the best official bottling from that distillery. Each bottling is unique, and it was only that one bottling of Old Pulteney 21 yo that Mr. Murray considered best in the world. .

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

If you like raw gefilte fish then go for this dram.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@Victor - I've never tasted it at 43% but it is, in my experience, one of the few malts that can handle being diluted down to 40.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

We get the 40% version in Canada which is why I always grab a 43% one when visiting the in laws in Oregon. That 3% makes a significant difference. Makes an excellent dram when you are not in the mood for anything too challenging, gefilte fish notwithstanding. wink

5 years ago 1Who liked this?