 | |
| Region: Highland | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Inver House Distillers |
| Founded | 1826 |
| Status | Active |
| Water source | Loch Hempriggs |
| No. of stills | 1 wash still (16,100 L) 1 spirit still (13,200 L) |
| Capacity | 1,000,000 litres |
Old Pulteney distillery is a malt whisky production and aging facility in the Pulteneytown area of Wick, Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland. The distillery produces the Old Pulteney single malt whisky at a number of ages and has a visitor centre in Huddart Street. [1]
The distillery was established in 1826 [2] in the name of Sir William Pulteney (who died in 1805), and after whom Pulteneytown is named. The distillery was the most northerly on the Scottish mainland (the honour has been usurped by Wolfburn Distillery near Thurso) and was quite inaccessible, except by sea, when established. Barley was brought in by sea, and the whisky was shipped out the same way. Many of the distillery workers were also employed as fishermen. The herring fishing industry is no longer part of daily life in Wick but the distillery continues to operate, producing a Highland single malt with a reputation as one of the finest available. Characteristics of the whisky are attributed to exposure to sea air during maturation. [2]
The distillery closed in 1930 due to declining trade after the local parish enforced prohibition laws but re-opened in 1951 when the vote was rescinded after the law was abolished. [3] It is now owned by Inver House Distillers. [4]
The Pulteney site uses water from an old mill lade, [5] constructed by Thomas Telford. [6] This stream flows out of Loch Hempriggs, 3 or 4 kilometres (2 miles) to the south/southwest, and is reputed to have powered a barley mill at or near the site of the distillery.
In July 2023, the distillery released its oldest whisky to date, the 45-year-old "Old Pulteney Bow Wave". [7]
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old
International Spirits Challenge 2021 - 94 Points
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Silver
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2019 - Gold - 95pts
International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Silver
Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2018 - Silver Outstanding
International Spirits Challenge 2018 - Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018 - 91 points
International Spirits Challenge 2017 – Silver
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017 - Silver Outstanding
International Spirits Challenge 2016 - Silver
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2016 - Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney Huddart
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Silver
International Spirits Competition 2019 - Silver
World Whiskies Awards 2019 - Silver
Old Pulteney 15 Years Old
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 – Silver
International Spirits Challenge 2019 – Gold
Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold
Old Pulteney 18 Years Old
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Gold
International Spirits Competition 2019 – Silver
Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Double Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2018 - Gold
International Wine and Spirit Competition – Gold
Traveller’s Exclusive
Old Pulteney 16 Years Old
International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Silver
Past awards in their collection include:
International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018
Old Pulteney 2006 Ex-Bourbon - Silver Outstanding
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
International Spirits Challenge 2017 [8]
Old Pulteney 35 Years Old 2nd Release – Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 [9]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old - 94 points, finalist
Old Pulteney Navigator - 92 points
Old Pulteney Clipper - 91 points
IWSC 2016 [10]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney Noss Head – Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney Navigator – Silver
Old Pulteney Duncansby Head - Silver
International Spirits Challenge 2016 [11]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
Old Pulteney Duncansby Head – Silver
Old Pulteney 35 Years Old 1st Release – Silver
Old Pulteney Dunnet Head - Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 [12]
Old Pulteney Navigator – 92 points
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – 89 points
World Whiskies Awards 2016
Old Pulteney 1989 - Worlds Best Single Malt [13]
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016 [14]
Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver
Berlin World Spirits Competition 2016 [15]
Old Pulteney – Highland Scotch Distillery of the Year
Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver
Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from fermented grain mash. Various grains are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which are typically made of charred white oak. Uncharred white oak casks previously used for the aging of port, rum or sherry are also sometimes used.
Highland Park distillery is the second northernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Scotland, located in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands.
The Glenlivet distillery is a distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and has operated almost continuously since. The distillery remained open throughout the Great Depression and its only closure came during World War II. The Glenlivet distillery has grown in the post-war period to become one of the biggest single malt distilleries. The Glenlivet brand is the biggest selling single malt whisky in the United States and the second biggest selling single malt brand globally after Glenfiddich.
Talisker distillery is an island single malt Scotch whisky distillery based in Carbost, Scotland on the Minginish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
Glenmorangie distillery is a distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky.
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky produced by Diageo in Scotland. It was established in the Scottish burgh of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire in 1820, and continued to be produced and bottled at the town's Hill Street plant, once the world's largest bottling plant, until its closure in 2012, a decision announced by Diageo in 2009 which would bring the 190 year association between the brand and Kilmarnock to an end.
Balvenie distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, owned by William Grant & Sons.
Chivas Regal is a blended Scotch whisky produced by the Chivas Brothers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard in Scotland.
Ardbeg distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Ardbeg on the south coast of the isle of Islay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides group of islands. The distillery is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, and produces a heavily peated Islay whisky. The distillery uses malted barley sourced from the maltings in Port Ellen.
Jura distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland.
Speyburn distillery Speyside Scottish whisky distillery, in Rothes, Moray, Scotland.
Knockdhu distillery is a whisky distillery situated in Knock, Banffshire and owned by Inver House Distillers Limited.
Cragganmore distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery situated in the village of Ballindalloch in Banffshire, Scotland.
Loch Lomond distillery is a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery in Alexandria, Scotland, near Loch Lomond.
W. L. Weller is a brand of "wheated" bourbon whiskey. The brand was created by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, and was sold several times after 1972. Since 1999, the brand has been owned by the Sazerac Company. It is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Like all bourbons, Weller is distilled from a mash composed of at least 51% corn (maize). The secondary grain used for the Weller brand is wheat, whereas most bourbons use rye.
Polar Ice is a Canadian vodka produced by Corby Distilleries Ltd. Produced from Canadian corn, it is quadruple-distilled, which vendors claim rids it of microscopic impurities and gives it a smoother taste. It is an 80 proof spirit. The product line includes various sizes and bottles of Polar Ice Vodka, Polar Ice Vodka Arctic Extreme and Polar Ice Vodka Ontario Peach. It is sold across Canada and in some cities in the United States of America.
BenRiachdistillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in the Speyside area of Scotland. It is currently owned by Brown-Forman Corporation.
Aberlour distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery, in Aberlour, Strathspey, Scotland, at the confluence of the Lour Burn and River Spey near Ben Rinnes.
SIA Scotch Whisky is a brand of Scotch whisky. It is a blend of Speyside, Highland and Islay malt and grain whiskies. The brand was created by its founder Carin Luna-Ostaseski with help from a Kickstarter funding campaign.
Kyrö Distillery Company is a Finnish rye distillery founded in a sauna in 2012. Kyrö uses 100 per cent Finnish rye to produce rye gin and rye whisky. In 2015, Kyrö Napue Gin, formerly known as Napue, won the Best Gin for Gin & Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirit competition. In August 2020 Kyrö launched its rye whisky, Kyrö Malt. To support health care workers during COVID-19, Kyrö started producing hand sanitizer. Through the sales of hand sanitizer, the company managed to avoid layoffs, and they have continued in production.
