Immersed in the ocean
Bottle Name: Old Pulteney 21 year old
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon + Fino Sherry Casks
Distillery: Old Pulteney
Region: Highlands Age: 21
Old Pulteney's flagship core product is the 21 year old. It was released in 2005 and is a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-fino sherry. It was named the best whisky in the world in Jim Murray’s whisky bible in 2012 and has picked up a string of gold medal awards since.
Nose: Rich and warming with strong aromas of aged wood and tree resin. Tropical fruits of pineapple and mango interplay with tanned leather, polish and honey. Brine and sea breeze waft around with hints of burnt pipe tobacco. Truly luxuriant and wonderfully enticing.
Taste: Superb balance, poise and development - waves of flavour and lots to think about. Oak spicing is at the fore with a light feint pepper. Sultanas, raisins dance around with more leather and polish. The OP salty tang is still present, but much more background than in the 17 and 12 year olds. There are added notes of light cinnamon, nutmeg and almost nutty like flavours. Tons going on here and resting the glass will reward you with even further complexities - Give it 15 to 20 minutes.
Finish: Long with salt and white pepper, tang and a just the right amount of astringent drying.
Those of you who know me will already know that Old Pulteney 21 year old is one of my all time favourite whiskies – my bar always has a bottle and always will. Superb balance, deep complexity and truly delicious waves of flavour are enhanced by a real maritime journey of a whisky which is worth sitting and exploring slowly and contemplatively. Class in a glass.
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