Old Pulteney Harbour

Nose is fairly subtle, showing lemon peel, honey, a whiff of brine, wet earth, and vanilla. Relatively light, somewhat oily mouthfeel. Palate shows more lemon, brine, earth, and vanilla, plus oak and nutmeg. Finish has a mild bite to it, and is medium-long. Good in the grand scheme of all whisky – but pretty underwhelming for a single malt. 3.25/5.00 – Quite Good (neat)

Disappointed

Salt takes the price. Prominent on the nose, palate and finish. Some caramel too but mostly blunt salty force trauma. 21-23-23-23: 90

Currently in the UK introducing our daughter to the family. After almost 10 days of winter sickness I have arisen to share a dram with my dad. Whilst still suffering somewhat from some olfactory stuffiness I am quite pleased to find a brief moment to enjoy a big pour. This OP is a limited edition single malt. Harbour was matured by the sea in a selection of four American oak bourbon barrels. N: Light, slightly creamy. Oaky vanillins, malty white bread, toasted coconut. Maybe a little bitter marmalade? P: Medium-oily texture. Creamy honey and buttery malt, darker toffee elements, toasty coconut and subtle pineapple sweetness. Plump raisins and light tannic spice. F: Medium. Very gently mineralic salt, dried fruits, and caramel. When commenting on OP12 I wrote that as a kid my Dad would often buy a big white bloomer bread loaf on the weekends that we would eat warm and slathered in honey. It’s a happy memory and one that mirrored OP12 for me. Getting to now have Harbour with my Dad is lovely. This OP is slightly toned down on malt, toffee/honey, and salt. But, In their place is a fruitier and slightly deeper profile with more prominent spice. The underlying backbone is much the same as OP12 though, and I am going to go and butter some bread, it is Sunday after all. Distiller whisky taste #301 Old Pulteney 12: 3.75/5 Harbour: 3.75/5 [No rocks, no pictures; forgive me for not having a travel rock. I had to leave it behind to make room for the offspring in my case]