Old Pulteney 12 (Photo by the brand)

Daily Drinker

I’m often asked for recommendations for “daily drinkers,” brands and expressions worthy of an evening dram to sip after a long day but won’t break the bank. After all, most people don’t have the capacity to slam a couple of Pappy’s or The Macallan 25 every night. At least, I don’t, so I am always looking for good quality and affordable alternatives. For bourbon, I often recommend Old Forester and Bulleit Bourbon and Rye. For Irish Whiskey, I recommend Jameson or Bushmills Black Bush. However, Scotch can be a bit trickier, as there is a steeper entry point for Scotch to achieve “quality” status. Some of the recommendations I make are Johnny Walker Black 12, Famous Grouse, and Speyburn 10, and now, I’m adding Old Pulteney 12 to the list.

Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney is a brand that’s been around for a while. As I discussed in my Old Pulteney Wine Cask review,  the distillery began production in 1826. It was a mainstay for North Sea herring fishermen for years, and due to the limited access to the distillery’s remote location, herring boats were the original mode of Old Pulteney’s distribution for years. I had forgotten about it (out of sight/out of mind) until I received a sample recently, and after having a dram last night, I remembered why I’ve always liked it!

Tasting Notes

It pours a golden amber, immediately releasing aromas of warm, buttery vanilla cookies, lemon hard candies, caramel, honey, and a hint of figs. It’s an inviting aroma, and hand-warming makes it even more noticeable. The mouthfeel is fat and oily, with a slight saltiness that opens into a cereal creaminess and then releases some sugar hints. The initial flavors include a mineral sense that leads to citrus, followed by buttery toffee, milk chocolate, menthol, oak barrel spice, malt, and a wisp of smoke. The finish is middling long, revealing more toffee, pie crust, brine, and lemon hard candy.

Final Thoughts

Old Pulteney 12 is a good whisky that offers an ideal balance between cost and quality, making it an excellent option for your daily sipper. Although it’s not likely to replace your bottle of Johnny Walker Blue, The Macallan 25 (hey – who am I to dictate what is or isn’t “great” in your mind?), I certainly like the Scotch whisky and love the price (sub-$40). As with most things, YMMV! If you like Speyside-style whisky, you’ll probably like this, and at its price point, I’d argue that it’s worth the chance.