Benrinnes 15 Flora & Fauna

“Blend It”

Whisky Review # 1097

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Benrinnes Flora & Fauna

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Most likely a mix of mostly Refill Ex-Sherry casks & Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 50-70 (July 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay/Good

Buying Advice: 😐 Better try out a Sample before buying a full bottle

Colour:

Dark Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Young despite its 15 Years. The Refill Sherry casks are quite noticeable and there's a bit of Sulfur around. Nothing serious though. A mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty, Yeasty and Burnt notes. Quite Buttery as well. The Spirit clearly got some balls making it good for Blending. But it misses Finesse and Balance, something I would expect of a 15 Year Old Single Malt.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Honey, Yeast, Dirty Earth, Apple Vinegar, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Sultanas, Citrus (Orange and Mandarin), Ripe Banana, Dusty Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Aniseed and Menthol.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Nutella, Farmyard, Cocoa Powder, Grapefruit, Cooked Vegetables, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Wet Sand, Rubber, Polish, Raw Meat, Sour Berry, Herbal Tea, Cinnamon, Licorice and a Floral note. A hint of Ashes perhaps.

Palate:

Quite Salty and Meaty. I also find Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. It's not really bad and certainly different from your average mainstream stuff but in this case that alone is not sufficient for me to really enjoy it a lot.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums and Raisins,  Apple Vinegar, slightly Sour and Bitter Citrus like Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lemon & Orange, Cocoa Powder, Raw Meat, Leather, Herbal Tea, Dusty Charred Oak, Walnuts, Pepper, Aniseed, Ginger and Menthol/Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Sour Berries, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Espresso, Dirty Earth and Wet Sand, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Licorice and a Musty note.

Finish:

Medium-Long but a bit on the Thin side. This should have been bottled at 46% at least. It's also a little Dirty and Bitter notes develop towards the very Dry end. I find Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Honey, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Apple, Sultana and Plums, slightly Sour and Bitter Citrus like Grapefruit & Seville Orange, Herbal Tea, Hazelnuts and Walnuts, Cocoa Powder, Dirty Earth, Raw Meat, Tobacco, Espresso, Dusty Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Aniseed, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice, Menthol/Mint, Ashes and something Musty.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not really improve this Benrinnes.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay

Conclusion:

Benrinnes was founded in 1826 by Peter MacKenzie. It was completely rebuilt in 1956 and is currently owned by Diageo. The annual capacity is 3.5 million litres. Almost all of the production is destined for the JW Blends. The Flora & Fauna 15 that I'm reviewing today is currently the only official distillery bottling.

I'm always looking forward to try a 15 Year old Scottish Single Malt as I often find that this is the perfect maturation time before the wood influence becomes a bit too powerful. I'm not overly impressed by this Benrinnes though. I'm not too sure about the quality of the casks and it might be that the middle cut was stretched a bit. In any case the end result is a different but not very balanced and a bit Dirty Single Malt. It is not very expensive but nevertheless I'm glad I bought a sample rather than a full bottle. I advise you to do the same!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                           July 2, 2026

Macaloney's Siol Dugall

                                                “Time”

Whisky Review # 1096

Country: Canada 🇨🇦

Region: Vancouver Island

Brand: Macaloney's Siol Dugall - Medium Peated (27 PPM) - Signature Selection

Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks (65%), Ex-Portuguese Red Wine casks (10%) and American Virgin Oak (25%)

Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 65-75 (June 2026)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Acceptable

Buying Advice: 😑 Better go for the Peated Mac Na Braiche

Colour:

Golden with shades of Red and Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young but not unpleasant. A bit understated. The Peat and Smoke are there but remain in the background. The Nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty & Burnt notes. It's quite Dry actually and there's a light sharpness of the Alcohol. But it's not bad considering its Youth.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Grass, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Salted Pork on the BBQ, light Coastal Peat, Distant Campfire Smoke, Ash and Soot, Charred Banana, Lemon, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger.     
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Syrup, Butterscotch, Cranberry Juice, Sour Apple Cider, Puff Pastry filled with Sweet Walnut puree, Burnt Pine Needles, Fruitcake, Pepper, Cloves, Tea and new Cigar boxes.

Palate:

It's Young, a bit Thin and a little Sharp but it's still my favorite part of this Single Malt. In my opinion it just needs more cask time to become really good. But time is money as you know and that's a burden for all starting distilleries. The palate is following the Nose with a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt and Salty notes. Quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, light Coastal Peat & Distant Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Bacon, Roasted Nuts, Lemon Tea, Charred Oak, Red Berries, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.

 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Orange, Burnt Straw, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Fruitcake, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Banana, Cinnamon, Cloves, Virgin Oak and a light Metallic note.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes as well. The Bitterness increases towards the very Dry end. I find Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted slightly Burnt Caramel, Charred Oak, Light Peat and Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Burnt Straw, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon, Salted Bacon, Dusty and Charred Oak, Roasted Nuts, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves and Cinnamon.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Siol Dugall.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience:

Okay/Good

Conclusion:

This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.

Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The New Make Spirit won many global awards.

Siol means Seed and Dugall is a Scottish clan. The name serves to underline the link between Scotland and Macaloney's. And you can certainly smell & taste these links. Therefore it's fair to say that the future might bring even more praise for this Canadian Island distillery. In my opinion the Spirit only needs more time in the casks to bring out the full potential of this Spirit. Because despite all modern maturation methods nothing beats time and a good cask to produce an excellent Single Malt. Let's hope Macaloney's will walk this path one day!

Cheers, Jan 🥃                                                                            June 25, 2026

 

Tullibardine 20

“It’s Alright But It’s Okay”

Whisky Review # 1095

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands

Brand: Tullibardine

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 20 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation:1st Fill Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 150-300 (June 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 👎 At this price level better go for Glengoyne or GlenDronach

Colour:

Dark Gold with shades of Orange and Brown (Probably not Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

On the Shy side. It takes some time to open up a bit. It's quite unpretentious and even a bit simple. It's not bad but I would expect more from a 20 Year old Single Malt. It's Sweet but not overly so. Some Sour, Salty and Dusty notes as well. The Alcohol is noticeable but does not interfere with the Nosing procedures. The Oak is there of course but I would not give it 20 Years in a blind tasting. It's still quite Fresh with some Fruit coming through. All in all okay but nothing special.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salty Caramel, Buttered Toast, Straw, Puff Pastry filled with warm Apricot Jam, Cooked Baby Fruit Puree (Apple, Banana, Pear), Coconut, Wet Paper, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Wax, Honey, Syrup, Walnuts, Citrus Fruit (Orange, Grapefruit and Lemon), Nougat, Bounty Bar, Wood Polish, Tobacco and Licorice.

Palate:

The best part of this Tullibardine although it's still on the simple side. The arrival is on the Thin side on account of the modest ABV. A 20 Year old Single Malt deserves more! Despite this low ABV the Alcohol still feels a little Sharp. Bitter-Sweet and on the Dry side. Some Sour and Salty notes can be found as well. Not bad but very straightforward.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Wax, Bounty Bars, slightly Sour Orange & Grapefruit, Apricot Jam, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Grass and Straw, Walnuts and Almonds, Dried Herbs, Dried Apple & Banana, Cigar Ashes, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cardamom and Licorice.

Finish:

Quite Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes as well. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. Wood and Wood Spice remain with you for quite a while. There's a slight Alcohol kick as well. I find Toasted Malt, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Salted Caramel, Honey, Buttered Toast, slightly Sour Grapefruit and Orange Juice, Mandarin, Banana Bread, Bounty Bars, Walnuts and Almonds, Dried Apple and Apricot, Dusty Charred Oak, Wet Rocks, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Aniseed and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

A little added Water takes out a little bit of the Alcohol heat. The general profile does not really change though. A few drops are sufficient.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good although I expected a lot more!

Conclusion:

The Tullibardine Distillery was founded in the year 1949 by the architect William Delmé Evans & is located in Blackford (Perthshire) on the site of a former Brewery. In 1994, Tullibardine was mothballed by Whyte & Mackay, the owners at that time. Production was resumed in the year 2003 when the distillery was sold to the Tullibardine Distillery Ltd. consortium In 2011, the French Maison Michel Picard from Chassagne Montrachet became the new owner. The 20 Years I'm reviewing today was launched in 2013 but the current core range consists of the Sovereign, 225 Sauternes Finish, 228 Burgundy Finish, 500 Sherry Finish, the 15 & the 18  Y. In 2025 the distillery produced around 3 million litres of Spirit.

I bought this bottle during our visit to the distillery in 2017 so it took me a while to open it! Unfortunately the cork broke when I tried to open the bottle but I still managed to remove it without ending up with cork in the whisky. Was the waiting worth the while? It was not I'm afraid. The Tullibardine 20 Years is not a bad Malt but it misses the Wow factor. It's totally unpretentious and I can see why it's not a part of the core range anymore. I will try to get a sample of the new 18 years to see if anything changed over the last ten years or so. Forget about this 20 Years though. It's too simple and way too expensive for what it offers!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         June 18, 2026

Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke

“The Scientist”

Whisky Review # 1094

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Lowlands

Brand: Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Micro Maturation Series - 9800 Bottles

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48.9%
Maturation: Hudson Baby Ex Bourbon Small Casks (6-9 months) followed by a mix of Virgin American Oak, 1st Fill and Re-Fill Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 60-75 (June 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Border line okay

Buying Advice: 😐 Not great but different and sufficiently interesting

Colour:

Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young. The Sweetness is a bit Artificial. Lots of Cold Smoke and Burnt notes. Not really bad but a bit Funky, Mineral & Yeasty. Medium Dry. The Alcohol is noticeable but does not interfere with the Nosing procedures.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Cold Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Cold Cigar Ashes, Burnt Grass, Heather and Straw, Stewed Fruit and Vegetables, Bacon on the BBQ, Charred Oak, Dried Herbs, Pepper & Ginger.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Brown Sugar, Artificially-flavored Candy (Banana, Lemon, Orange and Tangerine), Dark Chocolate, Rye Biscuits, Farmyard, Hospital, Wet Stones, Toasted Almonds, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Plastic, Metal, Tobacco, Green Olives, Mint & Garam Masala.

Palate:

Young, Light, Medium-Dry & Sweet with additional Bitter, Salty & Sour notes. The Alcohol is noticeable.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Burnt Buttered Toast, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Burnt Grass and Straw, Yeast, Charred Oak, Herbal Tea, Bacon on the BBQ, Wet Rocks, Metal, Pepper, Mint and Garam Masala.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Hospital, Artificially Flavored Candy (Orange, Lemon, Grape, Pear, Peach), Cooked Apple, Grapefruit, Toasted Almonds, Cacao, Tobacco, Leather, Plastic, Chemicals, Floral Soap, Licorice and slightly Musty Asparagus.

Image Credit: Whiskysaga.com

Finish:

Young, Light, Medium-Long, slightly Hot & Bitter-Sweet. A few Sour notes as well. Medium Dry. I find Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Burnt Grass and Straw, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Ash, Tar, Hospital, Lemon, Grapefruit, Sugared Toasted Almonds, Charred Oak, Metal, Plastic, Paint Thinner, Cacao, Artificially-flavored Candy (Tropical Fruit), Herbal Tea, Ginger & Garam Masala. After a while your mouth is filled with a Soapy, Artificial Sweetness that stays for a while.

Drinking Advice:

Addes Water does not improve this Ailsa Bay

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay/Good

Conclusion:

The Ailsa Bay distillery was founded in 2007 by William Grant & Sons on the same site as the Girvan Grain Distillery. Grant needed additional Malt capacity for the Blend production. Ailsa Bay produces both peated and un-peated Malt. Only a very small percentage of the 10-12 million production capacity is used for Single Malts like the 10 Year old Land Cask and the Sweet Smoke launched in 2018 that I'm reviewing today. 

The Sweet Smoke is made by trying to achieve the scientifically ideal blend of Smoke & Sweetness according to the Master Blender. (Respectively 22 PPM and 19 SPPM in this case). Micro Maturation is also used to accelerate the aging process. It's innovative although I think that a lot of people might find this expression a bit too Sweet. Personally I think it's within limits.

This is my first Ailsa Bay and I'm not disappointed. Of course it's very Young and on the Thin side and there's a bit too much Metal around. But it's interesting and that can't be said of many of today's Single Malts. I do hope that Grant & Sons will allow some Spirit to mature naturally so that we can enjoy a proper matured 12 or 15 years Ailsa Bay in the years to come.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         June 11, 2026

Glen Scotia Crosshill

“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

Whisky Review # 1093

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Campbeltown

Brand: Glen Scotia Crosshill

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 56.5% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: First Fill Bourbon casks with 6 months Finish in Oloroso Sherry casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 70-90 in Duty Free Shops (May 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay at around US$ 75

Buying Advice: 👎 I would skip this one and go for the 15 Years instead

Colour:

Golden with shades of Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young. A mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Salty, Musty and Dirty notes. And there's also a note that sits somewhere between the smells I find when I bring my car to a service center and some sort of Chemicals. Perhaps a very slight touch of Sulfur as well. In the Lowlands and Campbeltown Single Malts you would expect some of the more "Funky" notes but in this case it smells a bit Artificial to me. The Alcohol is present. The Sherry cask Finish is noticeable but I'm not too impressed with the quality of those Sherry casks.

Main Aromas:

Malted/Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Grass and Straw, Dirty Earth, Dried Fruit like Raisins & Apricots, Seville Orange, Warm Applesauce, Hazelnut Chocolate, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Espresso.

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Treacle, Floral Soap, Lemon, Grapefruit, Herbs, Sour Berries, Metal (Iron), Cinnamon, Nutmeg and distant hints of Leather and Raw Meat.

Palate:

Young & Dry. Bitter-Sweet with additional Sour, Salty & Musty notes. The Alcohol  is quite strong. I normally enjoy "dirty" Malts like Springbank or Ledaig but this Glen Scotia was not made for me I'm afraid. It smells and tastes like a rush job to me.

Main Flavours:

Malted/Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Straw, Dried Fruit like Apricots Mango, Raisins and Apple, Seville-Orange, Dark Chocolate, Musty Charred Oak, Dirty Earth, Metal (Iron), Pepper, Cinnamon, Mint and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Treacle, Nuts, Lemon, Grapefruit, Sour Berries, Herbs, Floral Soap, Strong Espresso, Nutmeg, Cloves and a hint of Raw Meat.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the notably Dry end. A few Sour and Salty notes as well. Quite Tannic. The Alcohol is present as is a Metal Off-Note that stays for quite a while. I find Toasted Cereals, Treacle, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Straw, Dirty Earth, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Raisins and Pineapple, Seville Orange, Grapefruit, Honey, Dark Chocolate, Dry Herbs, Musty Charred Oak, Sour Berries, Bourbon, Espresso, Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mint/Menthol and hints of Leather and Raw Meat.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water helps to calm down the Alcohol of course. And I did find some tinned Peach on the Nose. The Finish becomes quite Spicy and Sharp though. Better try it out both ways.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay at most. I didn't really enjoy this Tasting session. I bought a full bottle in the Travel Retail shop and that's a pity. Better try a sample first!

Conclusion:

The Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 and is located in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsular. It's one of the only 3 surviving distilleries in Campbeltown along with Springbank & Glengyle. The current owner is The Loch Lowmond Group (Hillhouse Capital Management). The new core range includes the 10, 12, 15, 18 and 25 Years and the NAS Expressions Double Cask and Victoriana. The Crosshill I review today is part of the Duty Free range. We visited the distillery in May 2017. We were lucky and got a private Tour and Tasting.

Crosshill Loch is the Water source for the Campbeltown distilleries.

I'm really disappointed by this Glen Scotia. I usually enjoy "Dirty" Malts but the Crosshill has too many flaws. It's too Young, too Sharp and too Edgy. I also don't like the Metallic off-note and the strange Funky note on the Nose. Perhaps a longer cut and indifferent casks are to blame for all this. I would advise you to leave this one alone and go for the regular Glen Scotia 12 Years or, even better, the 15 Years.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         May 28, 2026

Old Pulteney 2006 (Hart Brothers)

“Wick(ed) Games”

Whisky Review # 1092

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Wick, Northern Highlands

Brand: Old Pulteney 2006 - Distilled: January 2006

Bottled By: Hart Brothers Ltd. Glasgow in February 2021

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 52.6% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 80-120 (May 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay

Buying Advice: 👍 An interesting take on Old Pulteney if you can find it at $ 80

Colour:

Chestnut with shades of Orange - Natural Colour

Nose:

Although it's not a Sherry Bomb, the cask influence is very clear. The Fruity and Floral house style is transformed in a "darker" Spirit with lots of Dried Fruit, Nuts and Spices. I also find some Dusty and Earthy notes. Not bad, just different. A bit on the Dry side and Medium Sweet.

Main Aromas:

Barley Sugar, Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Straw, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs, Apricots and Dates, Dark Red Berries and Cherries, Dusty Road, Orange Flavored Dark Chocolate, Buttered Toast, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Ginger, Nutmeg and Cloves.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Wax, Cooked Vegetables, Banana Bread, Fortified Wine (Banyuls), Grilled Pineapple, Floral Perfume, Wet Stones/Wet Paper, Pepper and Cinnamon. A distant hint of Polished Leather upholstery.

Palate:

The Sherry profile is carried over to the Palate. The mouthfeel is a bit on the Light side which comes as a slight surprise when considering the high ABV. The Alcohol is a bit more noticeable at this point. Still, it's my favorite part of this Single Malt. Medium-Sweet and quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Barley Sugar, Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Dark Red Fruit, Orange-Flavored Dark Chocolate (70%), Dusty Earth and Oak, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Wet Rocks & Paper, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Cinnamon and a hint of Rubber Tyres.

Finish:

Medium-Long, Medium-bodied, Sweet, Dry and a little Salty. Lots of slightly bitter Oak towards the end. The Alcohol is more noticeable now. I find Toasted Grain and Barley Sugar, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Sultanas and Plums, Dark Red Fruit, Orange-Flavored Dark Chocolate with a 70% Cocoa percentage, Dusty Track, Dusty Oak, Wet Rocks and Paper, Fortified Wine, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Mint and traces of Polished Leather.

Drinking Advice:

I added a bit of Water and I get images of some Salty Peach on the Nose. Spices increase in the Finish but the Palate becomes slightly boring. I prefer it Neat but you can experiment with a few drops at a time.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good

Conclusion:

Pulteney was founded in 1826 by James Henderson in Wick. It is owned by Inver House Distillers, a part of International Beverage Holdings. The distillery produces 1.3 million litres of alcohol annually. The core range consists of the 12, 15, 18 and 25 Years, Harbour (NAS) and the peated Huddart (NAS).

This is the first time that I'm reviewing an Old Pulteney Single Malt that matured exclusively in an Ex-Sherry Butt. Normally a varying mix of Ex-Bourbon casks & Sherried Wood is used. I'm surprised in a positive way. The Sherry adds depth to the Spirit while maintaining the "Salty" element. It could have scored higher if not for the Light Feel to the Nose and Palate despite the more than appropriate ABV. I would have expected more from a First-Fill Sherry Butt. But in general I liked this Hart version of Old Pulteney. I've seen it on the Internet at around US$ 80 and at that price I can recommend it.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         May 21, 2026