Old Pulteney Huddart

Old Pulteney Huddart, 46 %

Old Pulteney Huddart

I continue my review of the new core range of products from Old Pulteney. The Old Pulteney Huddart is rather unique in that it is a (lightly) peated whisky. Most of you will know that they only produce unpeated newmake at this distillery, so for this product they did something special.

This whisky has been matured in 2nd fill bourbon casks and then finished in casks that have previously held heavily peated anCnoc single malt; from the sister distillery Knockdhu.

The Old Pulteney Huddart was launched as a UK exclusive in August 2018and will be launched internationally (including Norway) in January 2019.

You can buy the Old Pulteney Huddart at GBP 44.

Nose: A bit more edgy than the new Old Pulteney 15 YO, a bit darker. Still mainly spicy with lots of vanilla notes and a maritime touch. It is definitely still an Old Pulteney whisky, have no fear. So what about the peat? Well, this cannot really be called a peated whisky as such, in my mind. There are traces of peat here but more like a spice, an added dimension, a wider canvas. It reminds me of wood smoke, soot and cracked black pepper corns, but very mildly. Much the same effect I've also seen on other "second hand smoke" drams like the Scapa Glansa, Teerenpeli Hosa Black Cask, and the Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish.

Taste: Medium body and sweetness. Perhaps a bit more spicy on the palate than the 15 YO and 12 YO. An overall darker presentation. Heavier and a bit "dirty". Earthy as well turned soil. Dark chocolate.

Finish: Medium long finish. More and more dark chocolate and now also coffee and coffee beans. Hints of ashes and wood smoke. The peat from the anCnoc casks appear to have influenced the finish the most. Still, behind these new and unusual (for Old Pulteney) notes I recognize the honey, the vanilla, the mild fruitiness and the salty touch.

Comments: A successful "experiment" I would say, from a distillery that does not often dabble in experiments. Fresh and lovable.

Score (87/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas