Drinks group International Beverage Holdings – the international arm of ThaiBev – unveiled the global reveal of the new Old Pulteney travel retail collection at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes, France last week.
At a tasting event on the company’s stand, the three Old Pulteney expressions that form the reinvigorated travel retail collection were featured. The range consists of a 10yo, a 2006 Vintage, and a 16yo, marking a return to age statements. The packaging has also been made more contemporary and modern.
International Beverage said that each product “brings new flavours to the fore, while the meticulous cask selection and the distillery’s geographic location together ensure the Old Pulteney maritime essence remains”.
Global Travel Retail Director, James Bateman, said: “The new Traveller’s Collection is a clear and confident statement of our commitment to build quality, premium brands in travel retail. The beautifully detailed packaging and introduction of an age statement for each expression clearly redefines what is now a very strong brand offer for the channel.”
Taste profiles and pricing
The entry point into the collection is Old Pulteney 10 Years Old (40% ABV). It is matured in second-fill American oak, ex-bourbon barrels, offering a “seamless union of rich sweetness and tangy citrus vibrancy, capturing the spirit of the sea through hints of salt”. The flavour spectrum goes from creamy vanilla and toffee to fragrant floral notes and mellow spice. The one-litre bottle has an RRP in travel retail of £40 (US$53).
The small-batch, non-chill filtered 2006 Vintage (46% ABV) is the only expression to be retained from the previous travel retail collection. It is matured in first-fill, ex-bourbon American oak barrels chosen by Old Pulteney’s Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring. The whisky offers “a complex diversity of flavours: intense melting-toffee sweetness and spicy overtones join the classic salty sea note, contrasted with crisper flavours of coconut, citrus and green apples”. The one-litre bottle has an RRP in travel retail of £50 (US$66).
The rare non-chill filtered Old Pulteney 16 Years Old (46% ABV) has been matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels prior to further maturation in Spanish oak casks that have been seasoned with Oloroso sherry. The result is said to be sweet, spicy and intense, tempered by honeyed vanilla and a faint floral fragrance, with some chocolate notes. The 70cl bottle has an RRP in travel retail of £80 (US$105). International Beverage is only making this expression available where two travel retail SKUs are also stocked.
