Old Pulteney 16 Years Old

This Old Pulteney, an official release, matured to 16 year old, and bottled at 43%. Pulteney was dating to 1826 by James Henderson in Pulteneytown, Wick, and it remains one of the most northerly distilleries on the mainland. The distillery closed in 1930 when Wick went dry, and reopened only in 1951.

It was worked through Pulteney's boil ball stills, fed by Loch Hempriggs, before long maturation by the sea drew in its coastal character. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the brine. Around twelve to fifteen years the malt rounds into honey, citrus and sea air. The spirit takes colour and sweetness slowly in the cool far north. Inver House has built its single malt range around the distillery since 1995. The honeyed, waxy core is the signature of the maritime malt of the far north. Robert Cumming reopened the silent distillery in 1951 as demand for whisky returned.

At an approachable 43% it is balanced. A briny, oily edge sit alongside light vanilla from the refill oak. It is clean and bright, the coastal salt lifting the honey. It closes long, salty and honeyed. This is the salty, honeyed signature of Wick.