Old Pulteney 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

This newly presented Pulteney replaces the fabulous 17 year old. Aged in bourbon and second-fill American oak casks, followed by a period in first-fill Spanish oak oloroso butts, from a 20ml sample the aromas are shy, yielding suggestions of toffee apple, vanilla malt and "a hint of sea air", as the brand is known for. It's pretty spot on in terms of a classic Pulteney profile with a delicious integration of apple and pear fruitiness alongside beeswax, vanilla and a flurry of spices. Salted crackers and more beeswax carry through the aftertaste making for some Clynelish-like moments, although it's less full and succulent than the slightly older age statement it replaces. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... More than a night cap... one you should definitely take to bed with you. 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020

...Sherry is immediately obvious on the nose, with fresh-baked fruitcake aromas, honey, and allspice. The palate is sweet and spicy, with Jaffa orange segments dipped in sea salt, toffee, and dark chocolate. Orange and oak in the medium-length finish. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2018)

...It’s meant to have been double matured in bourbon and Spanish, but it’s unclear whether that was successively or parallelly. Not that we desperately need to know. Colour: gold. Nose: really very lovely, not smoky this time, naturally, but really coastal, with the much advertised sea air well in place, while a bready side keeps it cereally. Sour dough, Ethiopian bread (yep, just tried that, it’s very fermentary). A little mint too. Like this nose a lot. Mouth: very good, just the oak’s a little too spicy/gingery for me, which gives it an ‘infused’ side that’s also to be seen elsewhere, especially at all the new crafties that are using new small casks. All the rest is pretty perfect, fresh, coastal indeed, bready, with hints of liquorice allsorts that will please all the kids within ourselves… Finish: medium, on just the same notes. Comments: very good. Not exactly my cup of malt because of the modern oak spices, but very good nonetheless.
85 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com