Old Pulteney 25 Year

The nose is soft and delicate that starts with vanilla blossom, light sulfur, mild brine and sherry notes of dark chocolate covered raisins with toasted nuts followed by fruits of canned peaches, dehydrated apricots and lychee that transitions to moderate barrel spices and light oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting fruit forward with peaches, apricots and lemon zest followed by light floral notes then cayenne spiced dark chocolate, fresh figs and toasted almonds that fades to ocean brine, barrel spices and light drying ashy oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate covered raisins, toasted almonds, light floral, sea salt, peach ring candy, mandarin oranges, black pepper and light drying ashy oak. This is an enjoyable pour with a nice balance of flavors on the nose that starts fruity on the palate before veering into a drying medium spice with earthy, nutty and dark fruit notes before fading to brine and ashy oak that finishes medium length with a balance mixture of flavors but also with slightly drying ashy oak spices. These appear to be costing $500+, but is drier and ashier than I prefer and for that price, I’d really want something that comes across perfect for me.

Old Pulteney tasting event, Sydney, February 26, 2020, Whisky #5 Nose: Flowery stonefruit (peaches, apricots) and sweet citrus. Honeyed, grassy and a little spirity. Some fragrant woody notes. Palate: Dry, briny honey with oak notes on the arrival. It opens into a fruit dominated palate as it develops with lots of sweet flavours – barley sugar and boiled lollies, cherries, rosewater and rosehip tisane. Some spicy notes float about in the background. It’s a softer palate than the 15 year old but less voluptuous than the 18. Water improves it by increasing the volume and mouthfeel. Finish: Medium/short. Fades to briny, semi-sweet marmalade on the aftertaste with a little oak. Very much like the 15 year old turned up in volume, but lighter than the 18 and spirity in comparison. Not much more I can say about this as it left me feeling completely disinterested. There’s nothing bad going on, no off notes and it’s obviously well-crafted and matured, but it’s the most boring 25 year old whisky I’ve tasted for a good long while and there is no way I’d pay the asking price of $650 for a bottle. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Nose - Rich ripe apples, hint of salt, caramel, milk chocolate, flamed orange zest Taste - Gently spiced caramel apples, hint of salt, candied orange zest, tiny bit of tropical fruits, milk chocolate Finish - Lingering gentle spice, lightly salted/brined sweet apples, orange zest Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - Like previous Old Pulteney expressions that I've tried, this one is quite tasty and does pack quite a bit of flavor for 46%. This one feels like it's dominated by ripe apples and salted caramel. It's very nicely put together, but the finish is the weakest point in that the rich apple flavors and nice salted caramel notes on the palate turn into this salt brined fresh apple slices with a hint of orange zest that sort of makes your palate question what just happened and where the rich ripe apples went. This is tasty for sure, but not sure it's worth the price premium. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Probably not another NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

** Disclaimer: This review is what I would consider a “Quick Hit”- meaning I won’t have my usual in-depth notes that I usually like to take. The reason: this sample was poured at Whiskyfest DC on 4/17/18. All of these reviews will not be scored and I am actively looking to try them again at some point to do them more justice. We made our way back to the OP after the VIP hour ended to try this 25yo and the NAS Navigator. This 25 had similar maritime notes along with a fuller and richer sherry presence. It was still a bit rough around the edges, if you compared it to Macallan or Balvenie, but overall it was a very nice, salty sweet dram. I think I’m going to look into buying a bottle of this one to drink. I’d give it 4.5 stars all day long. Cheers.

Nose- apricot, sandalwood, sea salt, orange marmalade, light oak, ginger spices Palate- Honey, toasted almonds, toasted oak, toffee, ginger, creamy vanilla Finish- medium, creamy finish with notes of vanilla and ginger spice Very complex nose on this one. Not too in your face, but many different dimensions and flavors. Palate is good, nothing to write home about though. Finish is medium, with nice flavors, but forgettable. For a 25 year whisky, I can’t help but be disappointed to be honest.

Complex and deep but surprisingly has a little bit of a burn, more so than the 21. This one just isn’t worth it for me, good thing I only got a sample. 93