Old Pulteney 16 Year Old may not ring a bell. It’s part of the global travel retail collection so (theoretically) a Traveller’s exclusive as they say on the label. It is double matured, aged in American oak bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry seasoned Spanish oak casks.
Old Pulteney 16 yo (46%, OB +/- 2021)
Nose: a rather fresh fruity side comes out first. Yellow apples, oranges and peaches, with hints of honeycomb and generous vanilla custard. The saline character is noticeable, but very much in the background. Sweet lemons, light chalky notes. Some hay. Not much sherry so far, except for a light hint of toffee.
Mouth: showing more punch than the nose suggested. Still sweet citrus fruits and creamy vanilla, but also peppery notes and ginger which grow stonger over time. Brown sugar sweetness underneath. Then some nutty notes and a salty edge. Maybe a light hint of chocolate in the distance.
Finish: medium, spicy and salty, balanced by creamy notes. Fresh oak is noticeable too.
The extra maturation adds a woody / spicy side to this otherwise rather typical Old Pulteney. Solid whisky, which isn’t always the case with travel retail expressions. I prefer the Old Pulteney 15 Years which actually shares a similar recipe. Available in some regular shops as well. I bought a sample from The Whisky Exchange.