Decadent Drams Old Pulteney 2013 11 Year Old – 70cl

A neon jellyfish, glowing against black. Decadent Drinks have never been shy about their labels, and this one tells you exactly where the whisky is from: the sea. Old Pulteney, distilled in 2013, matured for eleven years in a single first-fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled in 2025 at 53%.

Pulteney sits in Wick, on the far north-east tip of mainland Scotland, and for most of its life it was a fishing-town distillery in every sense. It still calls itself the maritime malt, and the spirit earns the name: oily, briny and fresh, with a sturdy Highland weight underneath. Independent bottlings like this one show a livelier, less oak-polished side of the distillery than the official range, which is exactly why they're worth seeking out.

On the nose, green apple and green banana, a herbal edge of lovage and sorrel, and a breath of sea air. The palate is bright and zesty, with lime and a drop of olive brine over that Pulteney heft. Add water and you'll find orange cream coming through, before a fairly long, salty finish.

This is the sort of bottle for anyone who likes their whisky bold, bright and unmistakably coastal. At the price, a single first-fill cask at cask strength is serious value.

How to Serve

Neat in a Glencairn first, then a few drops of water to bring out the orange cream and soften the brine.

Food Pairings

Oysters, smoked haddock, or fish and chips with plenty of salt and vinegar.