This 17 year old from the Pulteney distillery was a double gold winner at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, matured in Spanish Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks.
These bottles were part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
The nose is clean and fresh with great balance. There is a profusion of fruit, from fruit salad with honeydew melon and pear to dried fruits, sultanas in a hot cross bun, fresh from the oven, a lightly salted butter melts over it with notes of fudge and a hint of something vaguely green. There is a lovely creaminess to the nose with notes of soft whirling smoke and crème fraîche. The palate is quite full and very sweet with sugared citrus peels and toffee. There are some notes of beeswax and honeycomb and fudge rises with malted barley and cereal sweetness. The finish is long with a herbal edge and a chewy oak.
I agree with the reviewer who said the 17 has the best parts of the 12 and 21. In my opinion, it handily wins a head-to-head tasting with the 21. Luckily I laid in some extra bottles before it won "whisky of the year" a couple of years ago and the price went up...
I would recommend this single malt to anyone (and have!). It is soft and rounded with an excellent finish. Honey in color and a bang at the end. Awesome!
I belive Old Pulteney 17 year old is the best dram out of the 12,17,21 year old range this is because you get elements from both the 12 and 21 year old. From the 12 year old you get the honey and cream and that faint salty note and the sweet apples and pears and from the 21 you get that aged oaky note with a slight puff of smoke and fruit and spice all things nice and interestingly ozone from the sea spray that gently peppers the barrels from those coastal windy waters. No wonder the fishermen found a certain salvation in Old Pulteney after all on those long cold and wet nights at sea there's some thing familiar in this dram.
Amazing scotch!
Decided to try something new today and definitely wasn't disappointed. Nice long lasting taste full of various rich notes. Would absolutely recommend to all Highland single malt lovers.
