A little while ago, Old Pulteney announced a new core range, introducing a new 15 and 18 year old to replace to classic 17 and 21 year old expressions. As a big fan of the distillery’s whiskies, I can’t wait to try these new additions. However, for now I’ll have to settle for a slightly less new release.
The Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage was announced in 2017, originally as a travel retail exclusive, but it is now widely available, across Europe at least. Matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, there’s not much else to tell about this whisky. So I guess we’ll just get to tasting…
Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage (46%, OB, 2017)
Nose: Lots of juicy pear and peach and quite sweet because of it, especially considering there’s plenty of vanilla and a whisper of honey here as well. Hints of wet, thick rope and shy notes of lemon custard. Voluptuous, but not overly complex.
Taste: Dryer and salty with a nutty edge, which equates to salted peanuts, I guess. Subtle notes of grapefruit, accompanied by ginger and white pepper, and a whiff of malted barley. It does have an inherent sweetness though, with a thin veneer of honey and, mainly, vanilla.
Finish: Some oak and spices, with a light sweetness. Medium in length.
Rating: 85
Good whisky and a nice introduction to Old Pulteney, if you’re looking for one.
