Merry Christmas!
I already mentioned this Old Pulteney 40 year old on my Facebook page when it was announced, now we can also try it and publish tasting notes.
It’s the oldest and most exclusive official expression to leave the warehouses so far. It’s made up of four casks: three Spanish ex-sherry hogsheads + one American oak ex-bourbon barrel. I was told they were filled in 1968 so it’s actually older than 40 years.
The whisky is presented in unusual deep-blue bottles, hand blown from melting silica, soda ash and special additions each bottle is then finished with solid silver melted blown across the glass to form a wave pattern. Each bottle of Old Pulteney 40 Year Old is topped with a stone closure whittled, polished, fine-pressure jetted, milled and polished again by the famous local Caithness Stone Industries. In addition every bottle of Old Pulteney 40 Year Old comes with a hand-signed book by whisky expert Charles MacLean.
Old Pulteney 40 yo
(51,3%, OB 2012, 493 btl.)
Old Pulteney 40 yoNose: starts on loads of polished precious woods and cigar boxes. Then it moves to hay and leather. Vanilla. Beautiful juicy fruits as well: orange blossom, cooked apple, quince jam. The longer you wait, the more fruity it becomes. Eucalyptus, mint and beeswax. The softest spices. Very fragrant, very complex.
Mouth: quite excellent. Fruity notes like oranges, grapefruit, banana and apricot pie. Oak as expected, but quite silky (some tannins but no excessive dryness) with wood spices (ginger, pepper, mint). Subtle sherry. Almonds. Green tea and leather in the end.
Finish: long, surprisingly minty and gingery. Hints of tobacco and nuts.
On the nose, this is one of the best whiskies I’ve encountered this year. It’s extremely elegant and surprisingly fruity. On the palate, the oak is prominent but there’s just enough creaminess and fruitiness to balance it out. Obviously it’s aimed at collectors: around € 1800.
Score: 93/100