Old Pulteney 8 Years (Gordon & MacPhail) Review

“Tutti Frutti (Oh Rudy)”

Country: Scotland

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Old Pulteney 
Matured and Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 40%

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: Medium Sweet, Malty, Waxy and a little Musty. I find Toasted Barley, Dried Fruit (Apricot and Raisins), Orange Peel, Honey, Salted Nuts, light Vanilla, Toffee, Grass, Fresh Herbs, Pencil Shavings, Pastry, Pepper and light Cinnamon. I also notice underneath it all a light Smoky note that somehow reminds me of Burnt Nut Shells. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. Uncomplicated Nose. Malt, Honey and Salt are the main drivers. I don't know if other reviewers do this as well but I always pour a few drops of the Whisky on my hands and then rub my palms together. In the case of this Old Pulteney you can enjoy the wonderful smell of German Butterkekse (Butter Biscuits) and a little Pineapple this way. Give it a try next time! 

Taste: Slightly Thin delivery. Bitter-Sweet and Salty. I find Toasted Barley, Dried Fruit (Apricot and Raisins), Orange Peel, Resin, Wood Shavings, Vanilla, Tutti-Frutti Gum, Salted Nuts, Floral notes, Pepper, Mint and Licorice.   

Finish: Middle-Long, a little Thin, Bitter Sweet and Malty with Toasted Barley, Salted Nuts, Orange Peel, Raisins, light Coconut, light Vanilla, Tutti-Frutti Gum, Toasted Oak, Pepper and Licorice.  

I added a little Water and on the Nose I find some more Apricot. Palate and Finish become too Thin. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 84 

Nose: 21.5 – Taste: 20.5 – Finish: 21 – Overall: 21

General Remarks: 

The Old Pulteney Distillery was founded in 1826 in Wick by James Henderson but was rebuilt in 1958. Over the years it changed hands many times but since 2006 it's owned by Thai Beverages PLC. The core range of the distillery consists of the 12, the 17, the 21 and the 35 Years old. In August 2013, Old Pulteney launched the NAS Lighthouse series, originally for the Travel Retail shops only. There are 3 Non Chill-Filtered expressions, all named after lighthouses around Wick. The Noss Head matures in Ex-Bourbon Casks, the Duncansby Head in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks and the Pentland Skerries in Ex-Sherry Casks. The latter was replaced by the Dunnet Head in 2015. Today however I'm tasting an 8 Year Old Old Pulteney that was matured and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, the independent bottler from Elgin. It's been around for quite a while in their Distillery Labels range. It matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon casks and is not really expensive. The average price is around 35 US Dollars.  

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: The Old Pulteney 8 Years by G&M is a young and uncomplicated Highlander. It's absolutely drinkable but not overly complex. Malt, Honey, Orange and various Salty flavours are the main drivers along with some Wood, Spices and a very clear Tutti-Frutti Chewing Gum flavour in the Finish. Still, I liked it better than the standard 12 Years Distillery Bottling. It's much Cleaner and less Musty. I'm pretty sure that Wood Management is the deciding factor here. If you're looking for a good and relatively cheap and simple everyday Highland Whisky you could certainly consider this Old Pulteney expression. If you prefer depth and complexity however, you should look elsewhere! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 14, 2016