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Old Pult again and even better

I really liked the breathy/bourbony Deanston I got in Florida for $26. The Bowmore 12 I've had lately that I picked up in the mid-$20's half a year ago continues to be pleasant. That vatted Glencoe I got last September at Binny's in Chicago at 58% for $9.99 a bottle (4 cases, thank you; more than two cases left) is always a bright, cheery, warmer with a splash of class. But this Old Pulteney currently sold at $22.99 at Elm Grove in Milwaukee is not only a price penguin, but it fits what one seasoned blender described in David Daiches' classic book on malts revealed: he is always looking for the flavor of "bubble gum."

The Old Pult I remember from many years ago was "briny", but this one is not so much thin and salty as it is dapplingly sweet and (daring the comparison; and please excusing the construction) mc-double-bubble-gummy. There is something about sweetness and gentle peat-tweakness on a mellow/rich frame that produces that baseball-card-referencing monicker, and this one is just delicious--dram after dram. I think I wrote something about big praise for Old Pult nice fruit on a slim frame a couple years back, but this one is more sumptious--it is like they went from Manzanilla casks (one ancient writer, either knowing or speculating about the casks they used, had nicked it the "Manzanilla of the North") to 2nd-fill Oloroso--plus maybe a breath of bourbon combined. It's a steal at this price, I can't help observing. (Ray's in Milwaukee also has 200ml bottles of J. Walker Green at $9.99 as a sell-off, BTW; the Black is $19.99 for 750ml too).

Reply to
Douglas W Hoyt
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A malt aficianado colleague (former colleague) suggested the Pultney when I was pondering my choices at the malt shop in Vienna airport a couple of seasons ago and I was happy that he did. I expected some brine; perhaps some sharpness from the northern clime but found the drink to be warm and slightly sweet with that "countryside" hint of peat smoke and salty kelp. No buble gum that I can detect -but it's been a long time since I chewed any and it was probably grape Bubble-Yum anyway.

One that I'll buy again.

Reply to
Commander Bob

~24 bottles in nine months? Are you gargling with it or bathing in it? Wow!

-- Larry

Reply to
pltrgyst

"Douglas W Hoyt" skrev i melding news:rymlg.159$ snipped-for-privacy@fe05.lga...

I bought my first bottle of Old Pulteney a few weeks ago (I'm referring to the 12 yo and I take it you are too?), and I'm having a dram right now. And well, now that you say it: Yes, I can see what you mean with "bubble-gummy"!

It's not for sale here in Norway, but we can get it across the border in our nabour country Sweden. And it is really fair priced there too, compared to the general price level, that is. But even disregarded the price I find it to be a single malt above average, and something else than both heavily sherried and heavily peated malts. A nice summer malt, and hey, it's June!

Gunnar

Reply to
Gunnar Thormodsaeter

Flog me, but this Old Pult at $22.99 (still priced there at Elmgrove Liquors in Brookfield, WI) is still mangos, pears, apricots and a hint of bubble gum with a serious kick, and is better than most preciously striven-for Mortlachs and most anything Speyside cranked out in the last couple decades or so (except maybe some Aberlour A'Bundadh, some Glenfarclas, and some Ardmore if that is considered anything-near-Speyside).

I do still really enjoy the cheapo Signatory 5 yr Islay I got in Hamburg last summer (it turns out to be Caol Isla--unlike the previous no-name Signatory Islays which were actually pretty tired and scrufffy Lagavulins). This high-proof youngin' is bursting with joyous Caol Isla industrial exotica--big time flavor for a whisky in such a precocious package. BIG value for 26 Euro.

I have also really been enjoying sundry small batch bourbon thingies, like the Buffalo Trace single barrel bottlings available at rival Party Source and Cork'N'Bottle in Covington KY just over the Ohio river (and northern tax belt) of Ohio for about $19, as well as other single-cask bourbon thingies like this Elmer T. Lee sitting right over here for $23.

But this Old Pult from Elmgrove (just bought again yesterday again after several months--and no disappointment) is the fruit-meister, the assertiveness-gracious-curtsier, and the mountaintop-guru-but-world-friendly-smiler that I think many distillers have been striving for but have completely lost the capacity for realizing that it is within their repertoire to produce.

Reply to
Douglas W Hoyt

Ah, to have a selection from which to choose, alas.......

I did pick up a couple of bottles recently. The "new" Glenlivet French Oak Reserve 15 is quite nice. I get bubblegum, fruity, with hints of (as M. Jackson described it) vanilla and strawberries & cream (although I don' think I would have picked the latter out without some suggestion). A very nice dram for this time of year.

Also bought a bottle from SMWS of a highly regarded Orkney distillery (in keeping with the custom of not mentioning it outright), cask strength 61%,

17 yr (1988) which is a delight (#4.107). I don't see many comments here about SMWS bottlings for some reason, but I've had excellent results from their selections. Very interesting malt with a hint of smoke and sweetness in the nose. Water brings out toffee, maybe some coffee hints and the character changes completely.

Picked up a bottle of Glenkinchie 10 as well, just to say I have tried it. Nice lowland malt, rather ordinary, good but with little individual character, some spice and a little bit of peat.

Reply to
mdavis

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