Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney — “The Maritime Malt” — is distilled at Pulteney Distillery in Wick, one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland, matured in sea-facing warehouses giving each expression a distinct briny coastal character. Core range: 12 Year (honey, lemon zest, gentle saltiness), 18 Year, 25 Year, and maritime-influenced Huddart (peated cask finish).

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Wick coastal environment actually influence the whisky?

Wick sits on the northeastern tip of the Scottish mainland, exposed to the North Sea on multiple sides — one of the most genuinely maritime locations of any Scottish distillery. Old Pulteney’s warehouses face the sea, meaning the barrels mature in an environment where salt-laden air permeates the wood and, to a small degree, the spirit itself through the barrel’s natural breathing. This is the same mechanism that creates the maritime character in coastal Islay and island malts, but at Old Pulteney the salt influence is more subtle and integrated rather than dominant. The result is a whisky with unmistakable brine and sea spray notes that emerge particularly on the finish — distinctive enough that blind tasters consistently identify an oceanic quality that distinguishes it from inland Scotch expressions.

What is the Old Pulteney Huddart and how does it differ from the core range?

Huddart is a no-age-statement expression named after a famous old Wick sailing ship — a tribute to the maritime fishing and trading heritage of the region. Unlike the standard Old Pulteney expressions (which are unpeated), Huddart is finished in peated casks, adding a layer of smoke to the coastal brine and honey character of the standard distillate. The peating comes through the finish rather than through primary distillation, meaning the smoke is a secondary character layered on top of the maritime base rather than the dominant flavor. It sits in the narrow category of maritime-plus-smoke whiskies — interesting for drinkers who want both coastal and peated character without committing to a heavily peated Islay expression.