The Old Pulteney Distillery was founded in 1826 by James Henderson in Wick, a fishing village in the far north-east of Scotland. It is fairly unique in the sense that it's located within a town and so joins its fellow “Townies” of Bowmore, Oban, and Springbank in this small select club.
This Old Pulteney is a delightfully delicious Highland dram matured in a combination of 90% Refill Bourbon casks with the remainder being aged within casks that previously held Spanish Oloroso Sherry. A particularly fresh and clean nose with quite a noticeable bourbon influence, releasing aromas of rose water, vanilla, soft oak, honey, fresh apples, lemon zest, and dried apricots. A sweetly succulent palate of lemons, apples, hint of salt, warm cake spice, delicate rose water give an overall well-balanced and a delightfully silkily rich and creamy mouthfeel. A medium to long finish of spices, oak, and salted toffees.
- Mark Jenner, The Rare Malt
