Old Pulteney Duncansby Head

Nose: Salty sea air (with a slight metallic hint), over-ripe tropical fruits (mango, banana, papaya), earthy malt. There's an unusual ester note on the nose, almost like some rum, but the profile is clearly cereal. The nose evolves over time, becoming more interesting as maritime notes develop. Palate: Sweet, salty stewed fruit on the initial taste - baked apples. As it develops, more sweetness emerges - Seville oranges (both the fruit and peel), sultanas, Dundee cake sprinkled with oloroso sherry. The texture is light but not thin. Finish: Medium. Fruity and salty/sweet aftertaste with some spicy hints and a touch of nougat. There's a faint metallic note, similar to the nose, but it's not distracting – just an indication of youth. An enjoyable no-age-statement Old Pulteney expression that, compared to their age-stated bottlings, seems noticeably "young". There are no significant flaws, it just feels unremarkable. A splash of water does little more than reveal a hint of vanilla and doesn't negatively or positively impact the spirit. Drink this one either neat or with water, as you prefer. It does gain some depth with time in the glass, but never quite reaches the level of the standard 12-year-old – let alone any older expressions. However, you can't bring yourself to actively dislike this whisky, and the finish is really quite good. I don't regret purchasing this bottle duty-free a few years ago, but I won't seek to replace it once it's finished. The official tasting notes and rating are accurate.

For its price, it's exceptionally good. The sherry flavor is noticeable. From boilermakers on 04/18/29.

Enjoyable - feels slightly less balanced than the 12-year-old. Definitely fruity on the aroma and palate.

The bright red box is the only flaw with this beauty.