Old Pulteney & anCnoc Whisky Evening
We welcomed the fabulous multi award winning Old Pulteney & AnCnoc Distilleries to Hobart on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm on October 15th at Destination Cellars. A fun night was had by all.
Pulteney Distillery is one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland. The extreme location and unique stills have resulted in a Single Malt Scotch Whisky that is bursting with the power and subtlety of the sea with a beautifully floral and juicy malt. Crafted by the sea Old Pulteney is the embodiment of history, people and place.
Old Pulteney, affectionately known as the ‘Maritime Malt’ uses first fill Bourbon Casks, combined with first and second fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The unique location of the distillery brings hints of the Atlantic ocean to the finished product. Slightly salty, floral and delicate. There is a new range and new packaging on the market now and we will try a few of them on this night.
AnCnoc (pronounced [a-nock]) distillery is situated in the Highlands of Scotland, on the very edge of the Speyside region in a small village called Knock. Previously named Knockdhu after the distillery, the whisky was renamed anCnoc, the Gaelic name anCnoc meaning "the hill" in 1994 to avoid confusion with Knockando.
The retention of Knockdhu’s two originally-designed pot stills means Ancnoc’s signature fruity, citric and honeyed flavour is very similar in style to the whisky produced by the distillery more than 100 years ago. Ancnoc is matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks, while the final whisky is free of chill filtration and added colour, lending weight to the malt’s light fruitiness.
Here are the drams that we delved into:
Old Pulteney:
12 Year Old - Matured wholly in air-dried, hand-selected ex-bourbon casks, the 'unashamedly excellent' Old Pulteney 12 year old is the definitive expression in the Old Pulteney family. Traditionally crafted using techniques that other distillers have long abandoned, this winner of numerous gold medals at the most prestigious international competitions is a high water-mark of quality spirits.
15 Year Old - Matured for 15 years, this is a balanced and smooth single malt. Balancing two different sides of the flavour spectrum, this single malt marries these perfectly, whilst also reflecting its coastal home and its unwavering influence. On one hand, this is an intense single malt, yet at the same time, it is truly balanced. Spice and sweetness unite in this naturally rich amber whisky to celebrate rich flavours, yet lighter, more refreshing coastal notes show another side of this single malt.
Huddart - A distinctively smoky take on Old Pulteney celebrating its birthplace.
Richly warming, this single malt embraces a mellow smoky character, whilst very much Old Pulteney at its heart. The combination of influence from the salt-infused sea air and the peat smoke make for a whisky with real character, depth and identity. With a richness extending into its rich gold colour, this single malt offers much in terms of complexity and flavour while subtly reminding us of the place where Old Pulteney began.
AnCnoc:
12 Year Old - The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. Smooth yet challenging. And each twist and turn delivers a surprise. In fact, this is a dram that has something for everyone.
Vintage 2002 - The recently released Vintage 2002 is a fitting testimony to the time-honoured methods employed in the production of this traditional yet distinctly modern single malt. anCnoc Vintage 2002 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non chill-filtered.
Peatheart - This dram has all the orchard and citrus fruit characteristics so typical of anCnoc but with a smokiness derived from barley malted to the specifications of the master blender, and a phenol content of 40PPM. Peatheart has been named after the peat bogs surrounding distillery, which are described as the heart of Scotland's peatlands.
Favourite dram on the night was the anCnoc 2002 vintage, from the OP 15 Year Old and then the Huddart coming in close third.