Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage Lightly Peated – 26 Year Old – 70cl 46%

From the bottle: Matured in fine oak casks, quietly breathing in the fresh sea sir, Old Pulteney is the very essence of this unique place. Intricate, balanced and with a delicate mineral-salted spiciness, Old Pulteney is a distinctive and evocative spirit – truly. Distillery Background: The Pulteney Distillery lies on the rugged northern coast of Scotland and is one of the most northerly distilleries on the mainland. Established in the port of Wick in 1826, this fine single malt is steeped in seafaring history. Back then, the windswept distillery was only accessible by sea and, as one of the busiest herring ports in the world, many of the distillery workers were also hardy fishermen. Nose: Spices of the Orient and tangy green apples are wrapped in a veil of warm wood smoke. Honey and vanilla cut through the middle with a lemony top note and a faint floral accent. Palate: It starts dark and peaty with a heavy, spicy underpinning. The sweeter and lighter notes soon follow, bringing to mind vanilla custard laced with runny toffee, a touch of coconut, worn leather and a generous helping of bitter orange marmalade. Finish: The peat smoke flickers and changes, revealing a very mature, spicy and tannic side of this superb Vintage. Long lasting and satisfying.