Old Pulteney 21 Year

Got it for a little over $100 last year and finally was able to enjoy it. The sherry influence is quite apparent with bright, fruity flavors. This is very full bodied and has some hidden complexity in it after the initial sip. There's vanilla and rich chocolate, with some cake or bread backbone. There's a woody oak tang that offsets the sweetness by adding an acidic burn. There's an apple or stone fruit sweetness that rolls away from the tangy sherry and develops a fuller berry type dessert with maltiness. There's the sea air saltiness of other OP offerings but a fuller finish than others with a burning ash supplying the only hints of smoke, but very subtle. It's on the sweeter side than most but not a dessert sipper (thankfully). This is very good. Basically, the old OP 12 is great, especially for the price, and the 21 is a ramped up version that offers a more dramatic and sophisticated offering of flavors. Next to any over priced age statement Macallan or similar bottles I'd choose this every time for the same flavor profile. At just over $100 it's well worth it but at the current market prices above $300...is anything? Try this and buy this if you can.

Jim Murray is right: this product is exceptional. A real explosion of everything related to the sea: full and exciting on the nose and on the palate, salty and salty, with a sweet background of honey and spicy spices. Very complex, but extremely balanced, to be meditated for at least half an hour before understanding it: you like it immediately, but its soul is complicated and varied. You can almost talk to it... If you have a flavor you like in mind, you will find it inside, if not at the firstsip, at the second one. And the finish? It remains inside you and conquers you with its length and sweetness, in contrast with its "maritime" origins. Undoubtedly he deserves the highest marks, to try at least once in his life. Impossible not to not have it in the cabinet for a malt lover, it is worth every penny. I would say THE whisky! ____________________________________________________________________________ Ha ragione Jim Murray: questo prodotto è eccezionale. Una vera esplosione di tutto quello che riguarda il mare: al naso ed al palato pieno ed emozionante, salino e salmastro, con sottofondo dolce di miele e piccante di spezie. Molto complesso, ma estremamente bilanciato, da meditare per almeno mezz’ora prima di capirlo: piace da subito, ma la sua anima è complicata e varia. Ci si può quasi parlare. Se si ha in mente un sapore che piace, ce lo si trova dentro se non al primo al secondo sorso. Ed il finale? Ti rimane dentro e ti conquista con la sua lunghezza e dolcezza, in contrasto con le sue origini “marinare”. Merita indubbiamente il massimo dei voti, da provare almeno una volta nella vita. Impossibile da non abere nel cabinet per un amante del malto, vale ogni centesimo che costa. Direi IL whisky!

Starts right off with stale bread. There is some nice fruitiness in here too. It doesn't really taste old. There are some bits of spice, chocolate, and seaside going on, but they are quite hidden. That nasty bread flavor just overwhelms. There is a hint of mint in here that is very subtle and draws attention to the alcohol. There is some mild smoke and a hint of peat. It's a smooth drink, but it just tastes young and blech. I appreciate the sweetness. There is a fair amount going on, but that nasty flavor dominates. I wish that it removed the bad taste and amped up the other flavors - then it would be really good. It's a lot like Balvenie 21 Port Wood in the most unflattering way, but it lacks some of the better characteristics.

It lived to my expectations. Spectacular on the nose, nice on the palate. Bottled at 46%abv, with a burnished color. On the nose is amazing. The most sweet dram i have ever nosed without a doubt. Caramelized apples, brown sugar, chocolate, lemon, prunes, caramel rolls, sophisticated vanilla, cinnamon, hints of liquorice. Sweet and complex. On the palate is delicious but can be too sweet and can numb your palate. Liquorice, caramel, apples. A full tobacco sensation as soon as it hits the tongue, transforms into a pleasant elegant hotness. Full mouth sensation. Even the nose gets a little action. Herbal notes, very pleasant. The spices are very balanced. An amazing dram truly. Very enjoyable. Made for experienced drinkers. Lots of cinnamon in the nose and palate. Just the right amount. Finish is long but too sweet even for me. Overall i give this baby a 93 over a 100. Absolutely recommended.

Old Pulteney 12 was one first single malts I came upon in my whisky journey and have been a top favorite of mine. Well, tonight was a good night for a pour as I am able to take my time in my solitude and really delve in. The 17 and 21 I have briefly tasted at Whiskyfest 2017. Since then I needed to have these for my own. Best of that 2017 night, for me, was this 21 year old. The pour is a light golden amber color. The nose begins as tropical-fruity, dark chocolate. Slowly as is opens, the briny maritime notes merge into the tropical fruits. Orange creamsicle bursts open and wonderfully dominates. It does weaken and the dance of aromas start to work together. Saw dust, vanilla custard, oatmeal raisin bread, honey and lemon hold the aroma line. The collective aromas are all soft, rounded and gentle. First entry on the palate is ginger root prickly. After acclimation, the palate can begin to detect the flavors. Oranges, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, wood char provide the vibrant side. But there is a soft, sweet to counter. Butterscotch, golden honey, toasted coconut, dried pineapple and syrupy dates. If you want your dram to be sweeter, taking the prickly nature away, add a small dash of water. The finish is medium-long with the ginger prickle and honey that slowly fade to wood dryness with a pinch of salt. All to a deep and soul warming joy. I am a big fan of Old Pulteney. The 12 has accompanied me on many a beach house vacation. This 21 is one to nurse slowly; savor it all. The parts and the whole. A wonderful sipper that would be perfect for a beach sunset or by a warming winter fire. I was able to snag two bottles. One for enjoying now and another for some future unknown purposeful sharing. I am glad I am able to currently enjoy as, alas, this will be soon, if not already, have gone the way of the Dodo. [96/100][$169][Tasted: 2/28/20]

Bottled 2017. Time to have two old Old Pulteney’s, 17 and 21, side by side! To unambiguously declare the winner, OP 21 is a special whisky, and OP 17 is not. I commend the OP 17 for its balancing of spirit and cask character. The OP 21 is mostly cask, and it is spectacular. I’m guessing this whisky started its maturation in a bourbon cask, and then spent numerous years in a second maturation in sherry casks. This is bombastically fruity. You get deep notes of berries, citrus, cherries, bananas, kiwis. The malt character is in the background, and it says, “pie.” Berry pie, orange pie, cherry pie, banana pie, kiwi pie. There is a huge fruity and biscuity quality that compares favorably with Redbreast 21. The finish is again fruit pie, but also fairly woody and spicy. I am sad I only ever purchased one bottle of this, and I can no longer find it on shelves. Score: * (unforgettably good) How much does a bottle cost: Secondary market pricing is probably around $200-$300 right now. I don’t see these on shelves any more. How much do I think a bottle is worth: $200

Kory and I went in on this bottle together prior to its discontinuation. This whisky invites time and careful consideration. It’s not going at anyone else’s pace. Old Pulteney 21 smells like barrel-aged stout, toasted cashews, vanilla, light peat smoke, and polished leather. The palate offers hints of brine, and suggests red fruit and black currant. The rich and nutty notes from the nose are emphasized here as well. But the most delightful aspect of the palate is the patient and storied oak. It’s truly captivating. The mouthfeel is balanced; oily, but not overwhelmingly so. The finish is smooth and round, bringing a slow but sure heat. The aftertaste is reminiscent of vanilla and plum. One to enjoy in solitude, and when there’s nothing else that needs to be done.