Scotch

Old Pulteney 30 Year Old Scotch Whisky Review

Can a 30-year-old Old Pulteney shift from tropical wax to salted caramel in one sip? This rare 1,000-bottle release answers deliciously.

OVERALL RATING

9
Like Conversation

Tasting Notes

About:

A limited release of only 1,000 bottles across the world. Matured in both American and European oak, this shows off some of the incredible qualities of classic Old Pulteney, along with those excellent, old oak notes.
Appearance:
Golden Orange
Nose:
Juicy fruit sweets and sweet, honey driven oak. So many fresh flower aromas to this, it’s like through a spring meadow. Candle wax, fizzy mango soda, pear juice, guava and pineapple.

There is a serious wax note to this, it’s like opening a pack of tropically scented wax crayons. It rounds out with a wonderful sour apple sweet note, Chewits, specifically.
Palate:
Almond tart with some sort of green fruit sauce, pick your choices between apple or pear.

Caramel sauce, cinnamon and some notes of bright oak. It’s so thick and chewy, loads of salted butter notes with clotted cream, honey and soft woody spices that come across as mace, nutmeg, Irish coffee and toffee.
Finish:
Present, powerful and has the most excellent, subtle woody notes that playthrough the spice and sweet, decadent flavours. It’s a long, developing finish that moves from spice, into sweetness, then into fruit and rounding out with a combination of sweet and salty – salted caramel feels a little cliché to say, but it’s true. A lingering warmth that reminds me of ginger chocolate.
Comments:
That finish is something to really write home about. It evolves and rolls as you linger on it, thinking about all of these salty, sweet, fruity, softly spiced flavour profiles.

I reviewed this whilst listening to a podcast about The Replacements, and much like that band, this 30 year old single malt doesn’t really have a distinctive sound or tone. It can do so many different things and morphs into whatever it wants to do, with the exception of being peated. Quite a fabulous old expression.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash