Pulteney 15 year old ex Sherry butt by Hart Brothers 52.6% 700ml

High on the cliffs above the township of Wick the Pulteney distillery is one of the truly coastal distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. A local stream runs straight through the distillery and is used as the cooling water for the worm tub condensers. Because of the unusual boiling balls on the stills at Pulteney the spirit isn’t as heavy and meaty as that from Cragiellachie distillery. Malty and sweet with additional richness and a hint of sea air.

Nose: Chicken Crimpy Shapes and burnt orange explode from the glass. Pineapple lumps and pink lady apple skins hide in the back ground, with a touch of hot black rock beaches.
Palate: Apricot danishes land on the front palate, followed by plum jam and hot sauna rocks. The back palate reminds me of drinking black plum schnapps in Vienna.
Finish: Wine gums lead, immediately followed by limestone minerality.

Hart Brothers can trace their origins in the licensed trade back to the late 19th century when the family were licensed victuallers and publicans in Paisley, the mill town on the outskirts of Glasgow. It was not until 1964 that brothers Iain & Donald Hart incorporated the company as Wine & Spirit Wholesalers and Scotch Whisky Blenders. Alistair Hart joined the company in 1975 and it was his responsibility as chief blender to source vintage casks of single malt whisky that were not readily available through any specialist whisky shop or online whisky site.