I tried £20,000 50 year old whisky from Old Pulteney - it tells the story of its coastal home
The oldest expression from the north east distillery has been released, and Rosalind Erskine was among the first to try it.
There’s nothing better than trying a whisky in the location in which it was created. From dark, damp and atmospheric warehouses to distillery manager’s offices and specially kit out tasting rooms; there’s something about the sense of place, which is key in the maturation of our national drink, that just makes trying a dram for the first time that little bit more enjoyable.
Which is why the chance to try a 50 year old whisky from Old Pulteney and a 30 year old - both released this month to celebrate the brand turning 200 - I jumped at the chance.
Both whiskies have been distilled and matured at Pulteney Distillery in the historic port of Wick on Scotland’s unforgiving north coast. Both are shaped by the sea that dominates this remote part of Scotland, as are all whiskies from Old Pulteney which is known for its coastal drams.
To mark the release of these rare whiskies the team worked with Glencairn on bespoke bottles designed by Lewis Moberly and Morans Wood Components to handcraft the outer casings, which takes inspiration from weathered driftwood.
The 50 year old whisky is a marriage of four casks, predominantly American oak with a subtle seasoning of European oak. It’s a dark golden colour and, from the first nose you can smell that salinity but there are also deep stewed fruit notes - like an apple and plum crumble with custard as well as a hint of tobacco and leather.
On tasting the whisky, the overwhelming note I experienced was a leathery, tobacco dryness and depth laced with toffee, more stewed apples and spice. The finish was long and quite sweet with hints of vanilla.
The 50 year old is bottled at 40.8% ABV and there are only 200 bottles available, priced at £20,000 each.
The 30 year old whisky is a different dram altogether, which was the plan, explained Sarah Burgess International Beverage Master of Whisky Creation.
The nose in this dram is brighter and fresher, with notes of green apple and oak as well as citrus and that maritime salinity. On the palate there’s sugared almonds, stewed pear, dried dark fruits, honey and spices as well as a hint of floral. The finish is spicy and sweet.
The 30 year old whisky is bottled at 50.4% ABV and there are 1,000 bottles available priced at £1,750 per bottle.
Sarah Burgess, International Beverage Master of Whisky Creation said: “For this special year we wanted to create something extraordinary, not only to mark the milestone but as a true celebration of the distillery and the maritime thread that weaves through all Old Pulteney whiskies. I often think casks of whisky are like people, each behaving in an individual way and changing over time.
“For these two new expressions, my job was to select casks that honour the different moments in the distillery’s 200-year history, whilst bringing them together in whiskies that reflect everything Old Pulteney represents. Our spirit is crafted by the sea and the location that is our home.”
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