Old Pulteney 12 Year Old

It’s a long way to Wick, tucked up in the far corner of the Highlands. But up there is the Old Pulteney distillery, currently producers of one of the world’s finest Single Malt Whiskies according to Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2012 (no serious whisky drinker should be without one). However, it was the entry level bottling, the 12 Year Old, that caught my eye since it was on offer – and who am I to refuse cheap whisky from a good distillery? Besides, it had been a while since I’d tasted something from Old Pulteney.

To the whisky itself then. Colour: ale-like, amber with a red tint. On the nose: very sweet, vanilla, sherry, orange peel, descending into dried fruits, sultanas, raisins, but all very gentle. Delicate malt flavourings. Nice coastal tang. Quite promising.

In the mouth: light, nippy, sweet, zesty, briny, good note of barley, but generally in and out pretty quickly. It’s very light with not much body to it, not much of a good mouth feel. I was hanging around for the finish, but I think it finished without me.

Later impressions: there’s complexity there, waiting to get out, but it seems to be muted for whatever reason.

All in all, it was a bit average, but I can’t complain too much, since it was on offer for around £20 – and certainly worth it at that price. I am, however, rather keen on sampling their 21 Year Old single malt, since that’s the one everyone’s talking about.

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3. Bruichladdich First Growth Cuvée Château Margaux 16 Year Old