Today I have the old Pulteney 12 year old on the menu. A whisky that I have tasted before, but that was quite some time ago. If I’m not mistaken this was when they still had the old label. I thought it was a nice and solid dram back then. So I think it’s really great that I got the chance to revisit this one again.
Pulteney distillery is by no means a new kid on the block, in fact, it has been around for almost two centuries. But for a long time, Old Pulteney was only available through a few independent bottlers (mainly Gordon & MacPhail), as just about all of the whisky produced was completely processed into blends. However, this changed when the distillery was taken over by Inver House in 1995. And so in 1997 the Old Pulteney 12 year old was introduced for the first time. A few years later, the core range was further expanded with, for example, a 17 and 21 year old. Most of the core range has since been replaced by other bottlings. But it was the 12 year old single malt that has been around from the start and still stands strong.
This Old Pulteney has matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 40% ABV.
Old Pulteney 12 year old tasting notes:
Nose: vanilla and oranges. Minerals and a bit briny too. Then I get lemons, but also a hint of coconut. Nougat. Almonds in the back and caramel. Later also peach.
Taste: a creamy mouthfeel with whipped cream and vanilla. Slightly watery though, but less than I expected. A bit of caramel fudge. Lemons and also oranges. Followed by minerals and a touch of chalk. A pinch of sea salt and almonds again.
Finish: short to mid-long with salt, caramel and lemons.
I still think this is a great entry-level whisky. It has those nice salty, maritime notes that you would expect from an Old Pulteney. Not a complicated single malt, but a subtle and tasty dram. For around €30, this is good value for money too.
Bottle provided by De Monnik Dranken.
