Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney has been producing Highland single malt in Wick, in the far north of Scotland, since 1826. The whisky and the distillery are both named in homage to Scottish landowner and politician Sir William Pulteney, after whom the town of Pulteney was named.

Until the establishment of Wolfburn Distillery near Thurso, Old Pulteney was the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. Its hard-to-access location in the early days of its operation dictated that barley had to be delivered by sea and the whisky left the distillery the same way.

High levels of reflux in the distillery’s odd-shaped stills is a contributing factor to Old Pulteney’s distinctive character, which is somewhat oily yet also ozone-fresh, with a salty tang associated with the distillery’s close proximity to the North Sea.

The core Old Pulteney single malt is a 12-year-old expression. In addition, the distillery produces 17-year-old and 21-year-old expressions which are of particular appeal to ‘maritime malt’ enthusiasts. In addition, In recent years a number of independent bottlings have emerged, notably Gordon & Macphail’s Private Collection 38-year-old, distilled in 1982, and the 1998 Connoisseurs Choice Pulteney.