Old Pulteney 2004 Single Cask Collection Foundations 19 yo

 

 

 

56,7°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

The Pulteney distillery is contributing to the Whisky Live Paris 2024 festivities by launching this 19-year-old single cask as part of the Foundations collection managed by La Maison du Whisky. The very simple maturation process will allow the distillate to express itself fully. 204 bottles have been released from the cask.

Let's Taste It : 

It's very salty, sea salt, samphire, big fat oysters, slightly herbaceous, lichen, celery, reeds, then the barrel plays its part, juicy yellow plums, bananas, melted butter, a zest of lemon. Iodised fullness, foam, kelp. It's oily on the palate, sunflower, argan, with a dash of vanilla, salted butter caramel, cereals sprinkled with flour, maritime notes linger in the background, spices under control. The finish is perfectly mastered, long, wide and powerful, chalky and limestone, the tide is rising, but it leads on to orchard fruits, green apples and Conference pears. Peanut chips.

In Short, 

A perfect Pulteney, giving access to all the typicality of the profile, it's a very good example of what the distillate has to offer. The nose and finish are really very good, but on the palate it's slightly underwhelming, more under the influence of the cask. It's going to sound surprising, but I would have liked to taste it a little earlier, to get an even more authentic distillate, at 19 years old it has mellowed a little though. The price is a bit high for my taste.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tigran Hamasyan - Markos and Markos

Old Pulteney 2004 Single Cask La Maison du Whisky Exclusive 15 yo

 

 

 

50,2°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This Single Cask is distributed exclusively by La Maison du Whisky as part of The Little Big Book Series. 726 copies were made from a first-fill Sherry cask.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, candied vanilla mingles with sherry and white grape, leather, caramel, salty iodine, sea spray, yellow plum, disorder and harmony. The tide, white sand, a light salt crust, oily sunshine. Suave on the palate, coconut milk, lavender honey, orchard fruits, yellow apple, pear, pepper and cardamom, perfectly balanced. Very long finish, sparkling fruit juice, lemon and walnut aftertaste. White sand, herbaceous hints, aniseed and rosemary.

In Short, 

It's very good, fruity and iodised as it should be, with a very nice balance. However, the sherry is rather light on this cask, so I would have preferred to taste cask 128, reserved for The Whisky Exchange, which was 62.1°. In any case, the whole thing is too expensive for what it is, and I think it should be reserved for hardcore fans, of which I am not.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Heavy Horses - Anyone can Tell

Old Pulteney 15 yo The Maritime Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks and Spanish Oak Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The advantage of this 15 year old is that it is finished in sherry casks, not to mention the 46° alcohol content, which is more attractive than the 12 year old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's oily, iodised, salty, like fresh fish, you can smell the scales. The tide, the sand, the sea spray, a little seaweed, kelp. Behind, the influence of bourbon and a welcome, if light, touch of sherry. Damp leather, almonds and walnuts, orchard fruits, Conference pears and Granny Smith apples. On the palate, coarse salt, vanilla, white plum, soft caramel, salted butter. The spices rise gently, without being overpowering. Quite a long finish, with sandy, limestone earth. A lemon zest.

 

In Short, 

A very well-balanced 15-year-old. Young enough to reveal the iodine intensity, but old enough to offer a fine complexity. The price is a little on the low side but, frankly, it's worth a try.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                                     Stina Nordenstam - Fireworks

Old Pulteney 18 yo The Maritime Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This expression replaces the 17-year-old, which nevertheless left its mark on the distillery. It is, of course, the prestige edition of the range, but not the pinnacle, as there is also a 25-year-old.

 

Let's Taste It : 

A good touch of sherry, with dried sultanas, a leather belt, elastic, puffed rice, cereals, white chocolate. The iodine comes next, a gentle sea breeze, salty, even spicy, a shade of caramel, vanilla butter, floral fragrances. The palate is very soft at first, honeyed and gently fruity, plum, pear and mirabelle, but the spices quickly rise, pepper and cinnamon, chocolate, nutmeg. A zest of lemon. Long finish of candied vanilla. Barley sugar, marshmallow.

 

In Short, 

This one has nothing to be ashamed of: it's subtle, varied and original, but also has the right amount of iodine to match the distillery's hallmarks. Nevertheless, the value for money is not entirely convincing.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    Sevdaliza - Live at Best Kept Secret 2016

Old Pulteney 12 yo The Maritime Malt

                                    

40°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands

Refill Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 1997

Totally Unpeated

This is the entry-level whisky from the most northerly distillery on the Main British Isle.

Let's Taste It : 

They say it's a maritime malt. Indeed, you can smell iodine, foam, tide, salt, kelp and even sand. Very light smoke and white grapes. A few drops of Sauternes. Lemon peel. Nice fullness. This lingers on the palate, which is quite velvety, oily, gently peppery, with wood, caramel and yellow plums. Some exotic friuts, banana, pineapple. The lemon is still there on the finish, which is warm, sparkling, not too short, a bit dry, malty and salty. Dry and sandy earth.

 

In Short, 

This saline, yet fairly subtle, profile is a real eye-catcher. However, the alcohol level is a little low, and overall I find it lacking a little character. It's a decent way to start a tasting.

Score : 82

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                           Yann Tiersen - Pell