This the Old Pulteney 1989 won the World’s Best Single Malt award at the World Whiskies Awards 2016. It has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels which previously held peated malt – this should result in a rich complex and lightly smoky dram. Nose: no immediate peat at first. Instead it is a creamy nose, high on vanilla, with some apricots, roasted pineapple and oranges. Honey. Leafy notes in the background, and indeed a roasted note as well. Hints of lemon-scented wax candles. Mouth: very nice texture, with the creamy fruits in the first row (yellow plums, pink grapefruit), as well as some honey and vanilla cake. It’s countered by a slightly acrid, burnt note and something vaguely hoppy. Funny but quite successful. Leather. Some grassy / mossy notes too, as well as a coastal edge. Good complexity. Finish: fairly long, still some oranges, beeswax, mocha and smoke.