Old Pulteney 2008 (Signatory)

From Signatory Vintage comes this Old Pulteney, aged 12 year old, from 2008, drawn from cask 4 and bottled at 56.2%. Just 695 bottles were filled. Old Pulteney was opened in 1826 by James Henderson in Pulteneytown, Wick; it still distils beside the sea at Wick. Old Pulteney is known the world over as the Maritime Malt.

It was worked through Pulteney's boil ball stills, fed by Loch Hempriggs, before long maturation by the sea drew in its coastal character. Maturation in Oloroso sherry laid salted dried fruit over the coastal spirit. Around twelve to fifteen years the malt rounds into honey, citrus and sea air. The cool, damp northern climate slows maturation, letting the spirit take wood gently over many years. 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.

At a hearty 56.2% it carries real weight. The Oloroso brings salted dried fruit, fig and walnut, and a salty maritime note sit alongside light vanilla from the refill oak. It is rounded and deep, the maritime note woven in. A gently briny finish lingers warm. This is the seaside style that made the distillery's name.