dcwb
Old Pulteney 21 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 3, 2020 (edited July 24, 2021)
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.
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@CKarmios The "old" bottles are 43% and a darker, brick color. Much deeper flavors. The bottles out the last couple years are 40% and much lighter, hay color.
@dcwb on this side of the pond it’s always been 40% ABV. Managed to find a bottle the other day, grabbed it of course
@CKarmios yes... it's still good but less ABV and less flavorful. for under $40 it's an awesome buy but not as good as the old ones. I randomly find dusty bottles of the old version at stores in new england with luck. not sure where you are or if you'll have the same luck but they do exist.
Talking of the old 12, have you had a chance to try the new 12?