Old Pulteney Navigator

This is an NAS limited edition from Old Pulteney, featuring older packaging. They recently updated their whole range, and this bottling wasn't included in the new lineup. This Navigator bottling comes from an earlier generation of Pulteney products. Let's find out if this NAS expression measures up to the older 12-year version, which I really enjoy. Nose: At 46% ABV, this really leaps from the glass. A strong jam aroma suggests sherry cask influence. Standard notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and toffee are present. It has a slightly grainy character and is clearly young. An off-putting sulfuric note is also detectable. Palate: True to its reputation as a coastal malt, there are distinct salty, sea-like notes. Cranberry and fig/date flavors hint at the sherry cask, while more standard toffee, honey, vanilla, apple, caramel, cereal, and butterscotch fill out the taste. It reminds me of a green apple Jolly Rancher. Towards the end, I detect some milk chocolate and citrus flavors, like lemon and lime juice. This is a significant improvement over the nose. Finish: It's woody and spicy. Hints of sea salt remain, now accompanied by black pepper and cinnamon. The higher alcohol content is noticeable here. More green apple Jolly Rancher notes. There's a touch of jammy, fruity sweetness before this moderately long finish concludes. It's definitely good, but not outstanding. Beyond its maritime characteristics, it's not particularly distinctive. It feels young. If you can find the Oban Distillers Edition for around $75, I'd recommend that as a sherry/bourbon cask aged coastal whisky from the Highlands. This one cost $49. Compared to the older 12-year version, I would favor the latter. The 12-year simply showcases Pulteney's potential better. However, I believe 46% ABV works well for this bottling and would also be suitable for the 12-year. Regarding the Navigator, it's decent as is, but I must admit, you wouldn't be missing much if you don't grab it before it sells out. It just needed more time in the barrels, or perhaps better quality casks. In any case, I rate this a 3.0, considering it perfectly average. EDIT: Three months later, I've revisited it. The nose is still weak and somewhat unpleasant, but the palate and finish have improved considerably. It has really evolved. My rating has increased from 3.0 to 3.75. Furthermore, my opinion on how it compares to the older 12-year (with the old packaging) might have shifted. More on that later.

I'm beginning my whisky journey and find this one intriguing. Many folks mention a warmth and alcohol sting upon the initial taste, and I concur. The taste profile was challenging for me to discern – a blend of sharp/invigorating and earthy. I recommend looking beyond initial reactions. This is a delightful dram with a subtle charm. A splash of water reduces the intensity of the heat. I don't detect many fruity notes (though I acknowledge my palate and vocabulary require development so that one day I can also describe whiskies as having notes of mystical light and spun sugar with a faint echo of cooked honey). Regardless, my basic description is that it evokes the seaside. However, not on a bright summer day, but rather like a crisp autumn morning by the ocean. The mouthfeel is slick, but pleasantly so. I appreciated its coating effect on my palate and its persistence after each sip. It's not a lasting flavor, but a lingering sensation. Similar to a potential spouse, initial judgments from afar might be best disregarded – approach and engage. This is an enjoyable whisky. I'm fond of it.

After being slightly let down by the VIP pour of the OP 35, I eventually returned to their booth to try the 25yo and the Navigator. This NAS was surprisingly good, even though the heavier-than-expected salt and sea notes dominated the malt, leaving behind a hint of soapiness that lingered longer than I would have liked. It was still mostly enjoyable, and I'd like to try it again soon. The 25yo was the highlight from the OP booth. More on that one later.

Old Pulteney 12 is one of my preferred 12-year-old malts. Comparing the 12 and The Navigator side-by-side, it's quite clear they share the same origin. Both display rich malt, apple pie crust flavor, a bit of fruitiness, and a hint of seaside saltiness. The Navigator is NAS, though clearly not young, has a higher proof than the 12, and also includes some sherry finish barrels. This is not an overwhelming sherry flavor, but the sherry fruitiness is definitely present. The finish is medium length, showcasing fruit and a bit of peppery dryness. This is another delicious malt from Old Pulteney. If I had to pick just one, it would be the 12. For my palate, it's the more balanced of the two, but I would miss The Navigator as it is both delicious and just different enough from the 12.

This 46% alcohol by volume malt is quite straightforward. The vessel is attractive, but the contents are paramount. It's smooth and acceptable, not a poor pour, though not remarkable either. Amber in hue and bottled at 46% abv. Sweet scents of honey and toffee greet the senses, quite vibrant. A hint of pear is also detected. A sugary fragrance. Sweetness of honey, sugary corn flakes, and sugar dominate the taste, with a subtle woody note reminiscent of cork. The finish offers an intriguing warmth, with chili providing a mild spiciness that isn't off-putting. In summary, it's an adequate spirit. A score of 78 out of 100 is a suitable rating for it.

The aroma begins with a robust presence of oak. A sharp spirituous note hints at its youth. It remains vibrant and citrusy, offering notes of green apple, lemon peel, and possibly grapefruit zest. A delicate sweet saltiness reminiscent of caramel emerges. Earthy undertones of grass and damp soil are present. It possesses minimal weight on the palate, feeling thin with very faint legs. The initial taste is sharp and fiery, even when diluted. Notes of grass, salt, and oak dominate. The prolonged finish is intensely spicy, with hints of pineapple and grapefruit. It has a floral quality that eludes my senses. A subtle saltiness lingers, though less pronounced than in any other Pulteney I've sampled.