Old Pulteney 1976 TB (The Bottlers)

From The Bottlers comes this Old Pulteney matured to 18 year old, from 1976, drawn from cask 1130 and bottled at 58%. Opened in 1826 in Pulteneytown on Scotland's far northern shore, Pulteney is the maritime malt of the far north. Old Pulteney is known the world over as the Maritime Malt.

The spirit was drawn off the flat topped wash still and boil ball spirit still that give the make its body, and matured by the shore, where sea air works into the wood. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, lending honey and vanilla under the salt. Beyond eighteen years the malt grows deep and oily, honey turning to dried fruit over soft brine. Coastal warehousing gives the malt its signature salty, maritime lift. The distillery has worn the title of the Maritime Malt for good reason. Wick built its fortune on herring and whisky, the silver and the gold of the north. Everything once moved by sea here, barley in and casks out across the North Sea.

At 58%, undiluted, it is bold and waxy. A salty maritime note sit alongside soft vanilla from the cask. It is rounded and deep, the maritime note woven in. The finish is deep, oily and maritime. This is the seaside style that made the distillery's name.