Old Pulteney 35

This review is a "Quick Hit" - meaning I won't have my usual detailed notes. The reason: this sample was poured at Whiskyfest DC on 4/17/18. All of these reviews will not be scored and I am actively looking to try them again at some point to do them more justice. This was our planned first stop when the doors opened at Whiskyfest. A group of us determined we needed to hit a few tables not offering peated whisky first, so we wouldn’t strain our palates right out of the starting gate. A 35yo OP sounded like a smart place to begin. Many others had the same idea and there was a line by the time we found the OP table. The pour was a decent size, but we just couldn’t let it sit long enough to open up in my opinion. Two others both noticed some soapy residue throughout the entire sip but it didn’t register with me so much. There was plenty of salt and sea spray notes, but it surprised me by how harsh the finish was. I was expecting it to be butter smooth, but it was anything but. I guess age doesn’t calm salt, it just gets saltier, lol. This was a good dram, but I ultimately felt let down - mostly because I have a bottle of this I paid over $600 for. It isn’t worth that based on flavor so I guess the age statement will have to be flashy enough to help it hold its value. Fingers crossed for that. Or I may end up saying “F-it” and opening it to give it a real opportunity to impress me. Who knows.

46% ABV Version Nose - Glazed donuts, fruity floral honey, caramel, chocolate-covered mints, baked fruits Taste - Baked fruits, apples, pears, golden raisins, apricot glaze, dark honey, toffee, coffee, chocolate Finish - Quite short but enjoyable, with caramel, dark honey, baked apples/pears, light mocha foam, and a hint of salt finally emerging. Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - The nose is fairly subtle and needs time to truly open up. The palate has nice flavors but is unfortunately a bit thin and watery for its age. It still had an "aged" character in the taste, with everything seeming well-integrated, but it just lacked a rich and complex mouthfeel. It's a very pleasant combination of flavors that takes a while to fully come together. I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to try this, but I would likely be disappointed if I owned a full bottle, as I believe the 21-year-old version is significantly better. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - No

From DC Whiskyfest 2018, this was the first of twelve samples. I only managed twelve due to feeling unwell that afternoon, affecting my head and stomach. I should have rested at the hotel, but I wasn't paying $350 for VIP access to just sample my hotel room! No scores were given as it wouldn't have been fair. The nose on OP 35 was quite subtle, showing raisins, sherry, and coastal notes. The palate offered oak, spice, saltiness, and sherry. My initial reaction wasn't positive, but I suspect this very aged single malt has much more to reveal; we just lacked the time for a deeper exploration.

Nice maritime influence with fruitiness and sweetness. Nose: Raisins, Honey, Oranges, Peaches, Cherries, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Strawberries, Almonds, Marzipan, Banana Milkshake, White Chocolate, Coconut, Roses Palate: Almonds, Strawberries, Vanilla, Cherries, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Toasted Honey, Banana Bread, Prunes, Dates, Raisins, Dark Chocolate Finish: Strawberries, Vanilla, Lavender, Almonds, Salted Caramel, Honey, Raisins, Cherries, Dates, Figs