Old Pulteney 17 Review

Distillery: Old Pulteney. Region: Highlands. ABV: 46%. Price: $85.

I’ve long been a fan of the Old Pulteney. Maybe it’s the Winslow Homer fan in me, or the fond memories I have of my grandfather’s Old Spice, but from the design on the bottle to the taste of the dram, the whisky has always spoken to me of life on the sea and making a living with your hands. So when the good folks at this Highland distillery offered to send us a sample of the current Old Pulteney 17-year-old, I was thrilled. And I gotta tell you, the dram does not disappoint.

There’s a woodsy nose to it, with scents of honey, dried apricots, and maybe a touch of dark chocolate. The palate is immensely fun. The oak from the nose serves as the base of the palate, over which you get splashes of butterscotch, blackberries, and more of that lovely honey. All the elements dance together without ever getting in each other’s way. And the finish, man the finish. It’s sustained without overstaying its welcome–and the whole time it lingered, I kept thinking about the next sip.

It’s a terrific whisky, and at this price, it’s a must-have. Here’s to people doing their jobs well. Cheers, friends! – TM

A company representative graciously provided a sample for review. As always, our opinions are 100% our own.