Old Pulteney distillery
The Pulteney distillery. | |
Region: Highland | |
---|---|
Owner | InterBev (Inver House Distillers) |
Founded | 1826 |
Status | Active |
No. of stills | 1 wash still, 1 spirit still |
Capacity | 1,000,000 litres |
The 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.
History
The distillery was established in 1826[1] in the name of Sir William Pulteney (who died in 1805), and for whom Pulteneytown is named. The distillery is the most northerly on the Scottish mainland 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.[1]
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in 1930 due to declining trade after the local parish enforced prohibition laws but re-opened in 1951 when the vote was rescinded after the law was abolished.[2] It is now owned by Inver House Distillers.[3]
The Pulteney site uses water from an old mill lade, constructed by Thomas Telford.[4] 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.
Awards
Old Pulteney is a multi-award-winning collection of whiskies that has secured some of the top awards around the world. Including the prestigious ‘World Whisky of the Year’ in ‘Jim Murray’s 2012 Whisky Bible’ awarded to Old Pulteney 21 Years Old. Current awards include:
International Spirits Challenge 2018
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old - Gold
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Silver
International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old - Gold
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney 2006 Ex-Bourbon - Silver Outstanding
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old - https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2018-spirits-results/Old-Pulteney-25-Years-Old-Highland-Single-Malt-Scotch-Whisky/
Old Pulteney 12 Years old - https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2018-spirits-results/Old-Pulteney-12-Years-Old-Highland-Single-Malt-Scotch-Whisky/
San Francisco Wine & Spirits Challenge
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Gold
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old - Gold
World Whisky Awards 2018
Old Pulteney 25 Years Old - Gold
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Silver
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
New York International Spirits Competition 2017
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2017 [5]
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old – Silver
Old Pulteney 35 Years Old 2nd Release – Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 [6]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old - 94 points, finalist
Old Pulteney Navigator - 92 points
Old Pulteney Clipper - 91 points
Old Pulteney 12 Year Old - 88 points
IWSC 2016 [7]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney Noss Head – Silver Outstanding
Old Pulteney Navigator – Silver
Old Pulteney Duncansby Head - Silver
International Spirits Challenge 2016 [8]
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
Old Pulteney 12 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 [9]
Old Pulteney Navigator – 92 points
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old – 89 points
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – 89 points
World Whiskies Awards 2016
Old Pulteney 1989 - Worlds Best Single Malt [10]
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016[11]
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old - Gold
Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver
Berlin World Spirits Competition 2016 [12]
Old Pulteney – Highland Scotch Distillery of the Year
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old – Silver
Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver
References
- 1 2 Pulteney Distillery, Visit Scotland, archived from the original on 19 June 2014, retrieved 19 June 2014
- ↑ Wick malt named world's best whisky, BBC News, 24 October 2011, archived from the original on 19 June 2014, retrieved 19 June 2014
- ↑ Rogerson, Paul (10 August 2006), "Old Pulteney raises spirits at Inver House", Glasgow Herald, archived from the original on 19 June 2014, retrieved 19 June 2014
- ↑ "10 old pulteney scotch whisky facts - The logbook — Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky". oldpulteney.com.
- ↑ "International Spirits Challenge 2017". Internationalspiritschallenge.com.
- ↑ "Ultimate Beverage Challenge — 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results". Ultimate-beverage.com.
- ↑ "IWSC - IWSC International Wine & Spirits Competition". Iwsc.net.
- ↑ "International Spirits Challenge 2017". Internationalspiritschallenge.com.
- ↑
- ↑ "World Whiskies Awards 2016 - Winners". Worldwhiskiesawards.com.
- ↑ "San Francisco World Spirits Competition". Sfspiritscomp.com.
- ↑ "2016 Winners". Berlininternationalspiritscompetition.com. 12 March 2016.