Old Pulteney

United Kingdom

All about Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney is a flagship of owner Inver House's single malt catalogue. In 2012 Jim Murray names the 21-year the, "World Whisky of the Year". A famed maritime brand with roots soaked in salt water, brine is dominant in the notes of this northerly house.

If a salty finish doesn't appeal then stear clear of Old Pulteney but, if you're willing to try, you may be surprised at how much you like it. Their youngest offering, a 12-year, is so pronounced that the name was changed to, "Maritime Malt", but the rarer 17 and 21-year bottles are also held in high esteem by malt afficionados.

Snappy and dry, ephemeral hints of green apple and light spice present an arresting bouqet from this 200 year old Whisky brand. Old Pulteney is a celebrated single malt well worth hunting down.

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All about Old Pulteney distillery

The Old Pulteney Distillery was, until 2012, the northernmost Whisky producing facility on the Scottish mainland. Located in historic Caithness, a fishing port in Wick, Old Pulteney has a longstanding relationship with the sea.

Named after Sir William Putney, a Scottish advocate and politician, Old Pulteney was founded in 1826. In its early years Pulteneytown was largely inaccessible, except by boat. Barley arrived from the sea, and Whisky went out in the same fashion.

The site uses water from a stream flowing out of Loch Hempsprings, a few kilometers away. Old Pulteney was shuttered in 1930, when the local government decided to enforce prohibition, but re-opened in 1951 when the laws were repealed. And thank god, because this is some of the best stuff around.

Old Pulteney possesses but a single pair of distinctively shaped stills. Condensation takes place in a pair of stainless worm tubs. These days their malt arrives by land, but with warehouses so close to the sea, a certain maritime character lives on in their product.

Old Pulteney employs a combination of American Oak ex-Bourbon and Spanish Oak ex-Sherry casks to mature their make.

Distillery info

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Region: Highlands
  • Address: Huddart St, Wick, Highlands and Islands KW1 5BA, United Kingdom
  • Phone: +44 1955 602371
  • Website: http://www.oldpulteney.com/