Pulteney

Pulteney

No: 52
Producer: Allied
Region: Highlands
District: Northern Highlands - Multimap view
Map reference ND 36 51 ; Latitude 58 27° N, Longitude 3 3° W
Founded 1826 ; Operating Status (1999): operating

Known as "The Manzanilla of the North" for its salty tang. The producers of Manzanilla do supply casks to the Scotch whisky industry and it is certainly possible that the odd butt has accomodated a charge of Pulteney whisky but in general the owners are more inclined towards Bourbon wood. The saltiness probably owes more to the sea air. Not only is the Pulteney distillery on the coast, its site is so exposed as to be falling off the furthest end of Scotland. It is the northernmost distillery on the mainland, at Wick.

Pulteney was founded in 1826 and rebuilt by the Hiram Walker company in 1959 as a contributor of malt whisky to the Ballantine blends. Its bottled single is known as Old Pulteney.
© Michael Jackson 1994

It was at one point owned by Robert James Cumming who also owned Balblair.

Distillery rating: 3*

Huddart Street, Wick, Caithness, KW1 5BA
Tel: 01955-2371

tastings

What charmed me about the distillery-issue Old Pulteney was its similarity to the Macallan, at a noticeably lower price. It could, however, have used some more aging than 8 years worth, I thought, which is why I've been looking for the 13 y.o. for some time. [map]

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