🥃 Old Pulteney 15 Year Old
Single malt Scotch whisky from Old Pulteney: 15 years, 46% ABV; first ex-bourbon second-fill casks, then ex-oloroso casks of Spanish oak; part of the range since 2018.
Old Pulteney 15 Year Old is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Old Pulteney brand, produced at the Pulteney distillery in Wick. The youngest whisky in the bottle is at least 15 years old, and the strength is 46% ABV. This version joined the permanent range in August 2018.
According to Scotchwhisky.com and Whisky Advocate, the whisky first matures in second-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks. It is then moved into first-fill Spanish oak ex-oloroso casks for additional maturation. Oloroso is a dry sherry, and such casks usually give the whisky a darker colour and notes of dried fruit. The sources do not specify how long this stage lasts.
Why it matters to you. Compared with Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, this version is distinguished by its higher age, strength and ex-oloroso casks. Old Pulteney 18 Year Old uses the same cask scheme but is older. For comparison, Balblair 15 Year Old from the same owner is a useful reference. WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 46% ABV |
|---|---|
| Cask type | second-fill American oak ex-bourbon, then first-fill Spanish oak ex-oloroso |
| Minimum maturation | 15 years is the age of the youngest whisky |
| Year founded | August 2018 (renewed permanent range) |
| Raw material | malted barley |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Old Pulteney 15 Year Old → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Oloroso, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Old Pulteney, 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🥃 Highland whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Balblair 15 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 18 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 18 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Old Pulteney 15 matures only in sherry casks?
No. The whisky first matures in ex-bourbon casks and then in ex-oloroso casks.
What is the strength of Old Pulteney 15 Year Old?
46% ABV, according to Scotchwhisky.com and Whisky Advocate.
When did Old Pulteney 15 appear?
In August 2018, when the brand renewed its permanent range.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Highland whisky — Protected region of Scotch whisky north of the legal Highland–Lowland boundary; the SWA’s 2024 map shows 55 distilleries here.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Old Pulteney 18 Year Old · 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old · 🥃 The Glenturret Triple Wood · 🥃 Balblair 12 Year Old · 🥃 Balblair 18 Year Old · 🥃 The Glenturret 15 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotchwhisky.com: Old Pulteney unveils its new core range (2018; 12 YO 40 %, mostly refill American oak; 15 and 18 YO 46 %, second-fill American oak ex-bourbon, then first-fill Spanish oak ex-oloroso butts; 17 and 21 YO withdrawn 2017)
- Whisky Advocate: Old Pulteney's new core range (15 and 18 Year Old, 46 %, second-fill ex-bourbon then first-fill Spanish oak ex-oloroso sherry butts; August 2018; 12 stays flagship)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)