 | |
| 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 |
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 Pulteney 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 was sold to John Dewar & Sons in 1924. Dewars join Distillers Company (DLC) in 1925. 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in 1930 due to declining trade after the local parish enforced prohibition laws but re-opened in 1951 when the vote was rescinded after the law was abolished.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]
In 1954, Hiram Walker & Sons bought Pulteney and in 1961 sold it to Allied Breweries. In 1995, Allied sold Pulteney to Inver House Distillers. [4]
In July 2023, the distillery released its oldest whisky to date, the 45-year-old "Old Pulteney Bow Wave". [5]
The Pulteney site uses water from an old mill lade, [6] constructed by Thomas Telford. [7] 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.
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old
Old Pulteney Huddart
Old Pulteney 15 Years Old
Old Pulteney 18 Years Old
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old
Traveller’s Exclusive
Old Pulteney 16 Years Old
Past awards in their collection include:
International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017
International Spirits Challenge 2017 [8]
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 [9]
IWSC 2016 [10]
International Spirits Challenge 2016 [11]
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 [12]
World Whiskies Awards 2016
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016 [14]
Berlin World Spirits Competition 2016 [15]
