Old Pulteney 1982 Cask #1522

An official Old Pulteney single malt matured to 15 year old, from 1982, drawn from cask 1522 and bottled at 61.1%. Established in 1826 by James Henderson in Pulteneytown, Wick, Pulteney is the maritime malt of the far north. Wick was once the herring capital, its fortunes built on silver fish and golden whisky.

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 American oak cask shaped it, flattering the waxy, honeyed make. Around twelve to fifteen years the malt rounds into honey, citrus and sea air. Maturation by the sea is central to the house style, the brine settling into the malt. Everything once moved by sea here, barley in and casks out across the North Sea. The water runs from Loch Hempriggs along a lade Thomas Telford laid in 1807. Pulteney's stills are unlike any other, the wash still topped flat where the neck was cut.

Bottled at a cask strength 61.1%, it is rich. Sea air, citrus and salt meet light vanilla from the refill oak. Beneath it run honey, citrus and a waxy weight. It finishes clean, salty and bright. This is the maritime malt of Scotland's far north.