Blind Summit Pulteney 18yo & Blind Summit Ardmore 11yo Virgin Oak

Blind Summit Pulteney 18yo

Region: Highlands

ABV: 51.8%

Price: £94.95 (50cl)

Distilled on the 11th March 2008 and matured for 18 years in a single refill bourbon hogshead, this Pulteney was bottled by Leith-based independent bottler Blind Summit in 2026, with an outturn of 160 bottles.

Nose

The nose has notes of melon, sea spray, apple slices, Caramac bars, condensed milk and tablet. Going back after a few minutes, and there’s now also notes of wet pebbles, pistachios, panna cotta, a hint of lemon and icing sugar. There’s minimal alcohol prickle here given the ABV.

Palate

Standard bourbon cask notes of vanilla, lemon and honey are mixed with a good hit of The palate opens with that citrus from the nose, along with chocolate coins, mango yoghurt, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. There’s nearly a touch too much peppery spice on the finish. The mouthfeel is solid, but we were hoping for a touch more. Not as complex as we’d hope from an 18 year old, but there are plenty of enjoyable flavours here.

Nose (with water)

Water has brought out a touch more peppery alcohol spice on the nose. There’s also far more fruit now: dried mangoes and cherries. It’s also a touch musty, with more chocolate. Most of the pre-dilution notes are still here, just in the background.

Palate (with water)

Water has reduced the spice on the finish, but some of the notes we enjoyed pre-dilution are diminished. We’re also getting more synthetic sweetness now, with notes of fudge and icing sugar. The mouthfeel has also taken a slight hit.

Conclusion

Personally we would skip water on this one as the improved nose doesn’t compensate for the negatives dilution brings to the nose. The Blind Summit team are great at using additional maturation to impart interesting flavours and aromas into whisky, but we’re glad here they let refill wood, good spirit and time do the talking.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Not a bad price for a single cask Old Pultney. 

Blind Summit Ardmore 11yo Virgin Oak

Region: Highlands

ABV: 57.6%

Price: £64.95 (50cl)

Distilled on the 2nd of December 2014 and bottled in 2026, this Ardmore was matured for ten years in a refill bourbon barrel before being re-racked on the 6th July 2025 into a virgin oak barrel for the remainder of its maturation. Outturn of 210 bottles.

Nose

The nose is initially a little tight, but with patience It starts to show notes of warm butter, ash, orange, coco powder, peppery alcohol spice,, apricot yoghurt and hay. Not the most complex nose, but one that benefits from a little patience.

Palate

We’re getting initial flavours of icing sugar, ash, citrus and dried wood. There’s a little too much cinnamon spice on the long finish, that’s really tingling our lips. It’s got a good mouthfeel that has a touch of creaminess to it. Like the nose its not the most complex dram we’ve tasted.

Nose (with water)

With reduction, it becomes smokier, with dried wood and marzipan coming to the fore. There’s less alcohol spice now. We’re also getting notes of Vegemite, warehouse funk and warm plastic.

Palate (with water)

The spice on the palate is in better balance. The peat is more pronounced and balances nicely with the sweetness. The mouthfeel has held up well. Finish remains a good length.

Conclusion

Unlike today’s other review, we feel this definitely needs a few drops of water to help it open up. Ardmore is far from our favourite distillery, so all credit to Blind Summit for producing something we find genuinely enjoyable.

Score: 7/10

Value

A good price, given Blind Summit is a smaller bottler that lacks the economies of scale enjoyed by other independent bottlers.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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