Cadenheads Old Pulteney 14yo

Whisky: Cadenheads Old Pulteney 14yo

Region: Highland

ABV: 55.4%

Price: £59

We’re sticking with Cadenheads for our next review. This 14 year old spent its life in a refill bourbon hogshead before before being bottled as part of the winter 2020 authentic collection.

Nose

This opens with dirty sand, saltwater, and varnished wood that makes us think we’re in a carpenters workshop. There’s also a metallic note, more specifically freshly cleaned stainless steel, and finally some extra dry sherry. This strikes us as very raw distillate with not much cask influence.

Palate

On the palate there’s wet paper, with nice vanilla notes in the background. We’re also tasting raw ginger juice mixed into unsweetened tea. There’s a fiery chili spice present through the beginning, middle and end of the palate.

Nose (with water)

With water the salt is still present but there’s less funky coastal notes. There’s also chocolate coated apple slices, and some more gingerbread just behind. The nose benefits from water as dilution has helped remove some of the rawness of the spirit.

Palate (with water)

The funk is now gone, and the mouthfeel is creamier. However, there’s still a punch of alcohol. The finish is medium length with a touch of lime zest.

Conclusion

Initially we were skeptical on both the nose and palate as they were quite tight and rough. Both opened up and smoothed out with a little water into something quite pleasant. Some more cask influence may have helped round out the edges without the need for water, and a we’d have liked to have tried this after a few extra years in the cask.

Score: 7/10 

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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