Old Pulteney Noss Head

Whisky Review

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Pulteney Distillery
• Bottling: Inver House Distillers Ltd.
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: £51.95

What they say:

Old Pulteney Noss Head

Packaged with a vibrant blue label and tube, the design features an image of the Noss Head lighthouse by which the whisky was inspired. Built in 1849 by Robert Arnot and named after the Old Norse word ‘Snos’, the lighthouse represents the nose-shaped headland where it is situated. Matured in American Oak ex-bourbon casks the malt inside has a full bodied, sweet and spicy taste with hints of coconut, lemons and oranges and a long-lasting finish.

Appearance:

Golden amber.

Aroma:

Slightly spicy on the nose with floral hints and traces of citrus fruits.

Taste:

Sweet and spicy with hints of coconut, lemons and oranges; well-balanced, full bodied with a long-lasting finish.

What I say:

In keeping with their maritime theme, Old Pulteney released the Lighthouse series of bottling in 2013 to the travel retail market. Each expression is named after a nearby lighthouse, famed for keeping mariners safe on the sometimes rough seas of the northeast coat of Scotland, and is constructed from differing marriages of casks. This expression is named after Noss Head lighthouse and is the ‘lightest’ having been matured solely in American Oak ex-bourbon casks.

Colour:

Light champagne gold (4/20) medium legs, slightly oily/imperceptible tears resolve to medium-sized droplets

Nose:

Citrus fresh orange and lemon peel – a little like lemon cream cleaner – a light icing sugar sweetness with runny honey and vanilla, fresh pine wood, grapefruit, coconut milk, floral with more creamy vanilla

Taste:

Smooth medium-light bodied, a light sweetness, lemon puff, lemon cream & custard cream biscuits, vanilla, biscuit malt, coconut ice, orange and lemon barley sugars, grapefruit zest and pith

Finish:

Medium-long, sweet with a light spice, citrus zest and pith, slightly drying in places with a pinch of sea salt or lemon salt

Overall:

Smooth and enjoyable packed with fresh citrus fruit and creamy vanilla with drying pine wood makes for a super-refreshing summer whisky.

Score: 84/100

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