Old Pulteney 12 Year

Great buy even if I didn't win the sailing trip. :( I think the smokiness is underreported in the chart (obviously never enough, though) but the rest is fairly accurate. Full flavor, not too oily and just the right brine and sea salt for my liking. Toffee is strong throughout, this is so smooth. We shall be very good friends in the future. [9/14/15] A later visit reminds me that the heat and spice comes out when drank straight but ice makes this all salt and sweet toffee. Versatile beverage for versatile fall weather. Ice brings out the toffee, caramel, and salty malt even more.

Across the nose you get a rich toffee smell that speaks for the flavor you're about to have. Once you sip it, you find an extremely smooth but robust flavor. The sweet notes of chocolate and toffee ride well on the subtlness of the brine and smoke. For the price I think this an excellent bottle to have on standby in any collection.

As this breathes, toffee, caramel, sweet tea, honey, malty-vanilla sweetness arrive on the nose. Sea salt and oak can be discerned, however faint. Very enticing bouquet and can inhale this all day. The longer it breathes, the sweeter the nose. A medium bodied dram with honey, vanilla and caramel sweetness and tropical fruits that find its way on the palate. Traces of milk chocolate swirl around the body. The sweetness slowly fades and finishes to an oaky dryness that is slightly bitter dashed with a sprinkle of white pepper. When water is added, the dryness is lessened and the sweetness enhanced. The creaminess and spiciness gets diminished as well. An extremely enjoyable dram where malt, vanilla, honey and oak are the center of attention. Very well balanced. Excellent price point. Perfect for sharing, with and without water. I picture myself on the upper deck of the beach house enjoying yet another August sunset with good friends and conversation taking in the horizon and maritime air. Another beach house scotch? [$42][90/100]. [Opened 9/20/14;5/2/15;Block Island 6/16].