Review: Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes
Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes is the first release in The Coastal Series, a collection of four limited edition whiskies that are set to be released annually through 2026. To create the series, Old Pulteney collaborated with spirit producers from coastal locations across the globe to source coastal casks for further maturing its whisky.
Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, followed by a secondary maturation in ex-Pineau des Charentes French oak casks. This release marks the first time Old Pulteney has matured its whisky in ex-Pineau des Charentes wine casks, a type of sweet fortified French wine.
Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes Specifications:
- Spirit: Scotch.
- Classification: Single Malt.
- Region: Highland.
- Age: NAS (No Age Statement).
- ABV: 46% (92 Proof).
- Cask Type: Matured in ex-bourbon casks, followed by ex-Pineau des Charentes French oak casks.
- Other: Natural Color, NCF (Non-Chill Filtered).
- Price Paid: N/A (Sample from Old Pulteney).
- MSRP: $79.99 for 750 mL.
Tasting Notes:
- Color: Amber.
- Nose: Opens with sweet oranges, apricots, white grapes, golden raisins, and honey, followed by spices – clove, with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg – vanilla, and salinity.
- Palate: Creamy mouthfeel. Sweet and salty. It opens with the maritime, briney quality that Old Pulteney is known for, leading into candied oranges, stewed apricot, golden raisins, balsamic glaze, honey, and caramel. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppercorn follow. There’s a pleasant oakiness and subtle floral quality in the background.
- Finish: Long. The caramel, apricot, and spices from the palate come together as a caramel infused, spiced apricot jam. It gets drier – but not too dry – as the finish trails off, concluding with minerality and salinity.
As discussed in my article, A Beginner’s Guide to Whisky Tasting, I prefer to try a whisky at least three times before casting final judgment. This allows me to become acquainted with it subtleties, and to account for the possibility of my palate being off on any given day. While sipping on Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes, I had to show serious restraint not to drink the entirety of the sample I was sent in one sitting. This is the definition of a dangerously drinkable whisky, and I can’t wait to try the rest of the expressions in The Coastal Series as they release over the next three years.
Rating: B+ (87–89%).