Scotland, Northern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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Pulteney

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Old Pulteney distillerie
Pulteney Distillery
Huddart Street
Wick
Caithness KW1 5BA
+44 1955 602 371
Owner Inver House Distillers Ltd
Creation date 1826

Photos

Comments

With the exception of Orkney Islands, Pulteney is the most northern distillery of Scotland. The distillery is named after an old estate in the Southern part of the city of Wick, Pulteney town.
The distillery stayed in the family of is founder James Henderson until the mid 1920's, when it has been bought by James Wartson & Co., owner of Parkmore and Ord. Three years later, this company became part of John Dewar's & Sons who was incorporated some time later by the D.C.L (Distillers Company Ltd.)
Closed from 1930 until 1951, Pulteney has been bought in 1951 by Robert Cumming, owner of Balblair who was constraint to resell the distillery to Hiram Walker in 1959. The latter renewed the distillery completely.
The current owners, the Inver House company bought both Balblair and Pulteney distilleries in 1995.
It's single malt is known as Old Pulteney, but the major part of the production is intended for the blends of Inver House: Catton's, Hankey Bannister, MacArthur's and Pinwinnie Royal, and for the Heather Cream whisky liqueur.

Old Pulteney: official bottlings

Pulteney

12 years
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Official
Cask
 Sherry
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 Forum 85/100
The colour is yellow-orange. The elegant nose is slightly smoky. It reveals also some grilled and fruity (plum) touches.
The mouth is salty and smooth, and marked by smoked barley malt.
The finish goes on to floral and slightly acid hints.
At the first nosing, my impression was that this whisky was one of the most refined ones from Isle of Islay. Elegant touches of smoke ant peat. The taste and the finish are both great. This malt produced by the most Northern distillery on the scottish "continent" (apart from Orkney thus) leaves excellent memories and must be considered as an "essential" in each good whisky collection. Further, its price and availability make this malt on of the greatest Scotch whiskies. Really a wonderful bottle.
88/100
A very delicate nose, with a slight touch of smoke developing quickly on flower smells, after having evoked peat then sweet citrus fruit (tangerine), the whole very well balanced and qualified. This complexity does not appear at the first sight. This whisky likes to be desired. The pleasure just goes on in the palate, still discrete and with a very nice salted impression, and the smoke remains present. A nice salted finish crowns the whole.
88/100
A delicate and relatively floral nose with some smoky hints and touches of ripe fruit. In the palate, a pleasant complexity, between slight hints of smoke and cereals and very discrete citrus fruit touches, a pleasant salty taste. An interesting salted finish, slightly woody and developing on the malt and chocolate.
84/100
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Pulteney

Sherry Wood 18 years
Age
 18 years
Alcohol percentage
 59,5 %
Bottler
 Official
Cask
 Sherry
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 88/100
The nose reveals a touch of peat.
The taste is oily, with hints of hazelnuts or peanuts.
The finish reveals salted notes, and leave an impression of salt on the tongue.
Unlike the 12 y.o. version, the nose does not reveal smoke. This whisky, matured in sherry casks and bottled at cask strength (59,6%) is another wonderful malt. Very well balanced, it remains exceptionally sweet, despite its high alcohol percentage. It's price is very high too...., but when you think about is, the happiness given by this fantastic malt is this price worth...
88/100
A second tasting confirms the very good impressions from the first one. A slight prominence of the sherry appears however, but this does not change anything to the quality of this exceptional malt.
88/100
The third tasting did not change anything to the result of the 2 first ones. It is simply a marvelous whisky, with a clear sherry dominance.
88/100
The clean nose is frankly marked by sherry, with peat and some citrus fruit hints on the background. In the palate, this whisky is really delicious, with a clear nut taste on a malt background. A long and very pleasant finish.
88/100
Very nice nose, where sherry, fruits (green apple), chocolate and clear mentholated hints are dominating. In the palate, a amazing complexity, rather difficult to dissect, but where cereal and fruit are important components together with salt and hazelnut hints. The lingering finish is very pleasant too, rather salty and the memory of nuts is there too.
88/100
The nose is pleasantly smoky and gently marked by sherry. Notes of plum jam.
The first impression in the mouth is quite acid, soon followed by nice woody notes. Hints of sherry. Nice complexity even if the whole is clearly marked by woody bitterness.
The finish is marked by wood as well. Rather long, this finish develops on pleasant sherry notes.
84/100
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Old Pulteney
17 years
Age
 17 years
Alcohol percentage
 46%
Bottler
 Official
Particularity
 Not chill filtered
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros< 25 euros
Old Pulteney aged 17
Sweet, fruity on the nose with a hint of woodiness. Full bodied with vanilla and floral overtones and a long-lasting finish.
A complex nose, mixing salt and smoke to a nice fruity and slightly woody side. In the palate, this whisky is very amazing. The taste is clean with a slightly acid hint mixed with some smoke, but develops soon on sweeter ripe fruit touches. A very ice complexity and a wide range of sensations. A lingering and very nice finish, with some woody hints.
88/100
At the second tasting, the floral side of this whisky was clearly present at the nosing, letting the salted character on the background, together wiht honey and peat hints. Clear peppery notes are present too. The mouth if first rather dry, peaty and first developes on woody notes, ant then on honey and flowers, in a very complex whole. The finish is long, and the dry bitterness detected in the mouth remains for a while.
84/100
A pleasant floral nose where hay hints mix with smooth impressions of acid drop, some ripe fruit. A very promising nose.
The mouth is in the same line. Very smooth and perfumed. Ripe fruit developing slowly on discrete slightly acid ones and a touch of bitterness/
The finish is rather long, and paradoxically bitterness seems to dominate the smoothness of the palate. A relative bitterness, close to cashew nuts.
84/100
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Pulteney

15 years, 1991 Cask Strength
Age
 15 years
Alcohol percentage
 54,9 %
Bottler
 Official
Dates
 Distil: 1991
Bottle
 0004
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Old Pulteney 1991 Cask Strength
Color: Gold
A lovely fresh and fruity nose. Nice but discrete odors of ripe fruit with a thin veil remaining the atmosphere of a damp cellar. Slight spray seem to be emerging in the background.
The palate is pleasantly fruity, much more complex than the nose was. A blend of ripe fruit and nice slightly bitter notes, between cocoa and cashew. Very nice set anyway.
The finish is long and warm and cocoa memories seem to dominate the fruit slightly.
84/100
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Pulteney

Hand bottled 1995
Age
 14 years
Alcohol percentage
 61,3 %
Bottler
 Official
Cask
 Bourbon
Cask number
single cask 2990
Dates
 Distil: 29/11/1995 Bottling: 18/06/2011
Bottle
 219 of
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 0/100
Pulteney hand bottled 1995
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Pulteney: independent bottlings

Pulteney

Scott's Selection 1977
Collection
 Natural Cask Strength
Age
 27 years
Alcohol percentage
 55,9 %
Bottler
 Scott's Selection
Dates
 Distil: 2005 Bottling: 1977
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 86/100
Pulteney Scott's selection 1977
Quite a clear peppery and spicy nose, with some discrete notes of chocolate, malted barley and floral hints together with a tingling impression. A touch of smoke too. In the palate, the first impression is a kind of woody bitterness quickly followed by more acid notes, remaining however on a woody register, even if rather complex and continuously developing. The alcohol does not hinder at all. The finish is long, warm with always the same bitter woody feeling. The whole should have some more diversity and complexity, but it remains a very pleasant whisky.
84/100
The nose is clearly marked by nice floral fragrances, hints of confectioner's custard followed by discrete sea hints together with spicy notes. Pepper and clove. Very interesting nose anyway. The palate is very refined, complex with wax notes mixed with ripe fruit and some nutty hints. A great smoothness. Nice development and quite diverse palette of tastes. The finish seems to be endless. Great class. All the mouth sensations come back. The memory of ripe fruit and the nutty hints. This is undoubtedly an excellent whisky which clearly improved since the previous tasting.
88/100
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Pulteney

Cask 1998
Collection
 Cask
Age
 13 years
Alcohol percentage
 56,9 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
Cask
 First fill bourbon
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength (casks 1055, 1056 and 1057)
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 91/100
Pulteney cask 1998

Colour: Old gold
The nose is pleasantly fruity with hints of nuts subtly integrated. Ripe tropical fruits. A beautiful complexity, this nose a glimpse of a great whisky. Balance and complexity are waiting for you.
The mouth does not deny the nose. The first attack is very fresh, fruity and the palate evolves slowly on bitter notes. Mouth very subtly complex, despite the alcohol, which is much felt. Few drops of water make it the most good.
The finish is long and nicely balanced between the bitter memory of nuts and fruit with some chocolate notes in the background.
This bottle is a wonderful value for money.
91/100
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Pulteney

Cask Collection, 26 years
Collection
 Cask Collection
Age
 26 years
Alcohol percentage
 47,7 %
Bottler
 Dewar Rattray
Cask
 Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 502
Dates
 Distil: 07/04/1082 Bottling: 30/03/2009
Bottle
 201 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Pulteney 26 A.D. Rattray
When opening the bottle, a full basket of fruits seems to have been hidden inside, and once in the glass, chocolate and cashew nuts seem to take it over. The nose is marvellously complex.
In the palate, the first impression is a kind of bitterness which gently develops on more acid notes. Chocolate and mocha are dominating
The finish is lingering and warm and smooth notes of hazelnut seem to predominate.
84/100
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Pulteney

Cask 1995
Collection
 Cask
Age
 14 years
Alcohol percentage
 60,5 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
Cask
 first fill sherry butt
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 87/100
Pulteney Cask 1995

Colour: Amber
A beautiful smell of sherry charming the nose immediately. The nose announces a whisky which is exceptionally balanced and rich. Some slightly woody scents and gingerbread and a vague smell of solvent complete the picture.
The first impression in the mouth is somewhat behind the pleasure of the nose. Obvious presence of alcohol. The exuberance announced by the nose is not at the rendezvous. However after a few moments, the mouth is balanced and very pleasant, even if it is less complex than what we wanted.
The finish is long and warm, decorated with memories of sherry and hints of chocolate and fruity touches.
87/100
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Pulteney

1998
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 52,5 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 1217
Dates
 Distil: 02/1998 Bottling: 01/2011
Bottle
 231 of 301 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Old Pulteney MOS 1990

Colour: Straw
The nose is initially aggressive, sharp, but after a few minutes of aeration, it calms down considerably. We now are dealing with fine notes of dried herb, but also light hints of yeast.
The smell of yeast from the first nose are also found in the mouth, at least initially. Fortunately after a few seconds, they are a great way to cool the mouth and becomes slightly more complex. Some barely ripe tropical fruit, a little honey. In short, a pleasant mouth but hard to describe.
The finish is long and fresh. Always pleasant and difficult to describe this feeling that continues to float throughout this beautiful finish.

84/100
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Old Pulteney: independent bottlings

Pulteney

Hart Brothers 12 years
Collection
 Hart Brothers
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 55,6 %
Bottler
 Hart Brothers
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 0/100
Old Pulteney Hart Brothers
There is a hint of sea air, light and smooth with a salty touch
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Pulteney: not in collection

Pulteney

1989 for La Maison du Whisky
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 59,5 %
Bottler
 Malt Pedigree
Cask
 Bourbon barrel
Cask number
single cask 12182
Dates
 Distil: 1989 Bottling: 2007
Bottle
 47 of 102 btls
links & average quote
 90/100
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Pulteney

Un-chillfiltered collection 1990
Collection
 Un-chillfiltered Collection
Age
 14 years
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 Signatory
Cask
 rum finish
Dates
 Distil: 1990 Bottling: 2004
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered
links & average quote
 78/100
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Pulteney

1974-2009
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
links & average quote
 Forum 88/100
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Pulteney

Single Cask 1997
Age
 10 years
Alcohol percentage
 45 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
Cask number
single cask 1193
Dates
 Distil: 1997 Bottling: 2008
links & average quote
 87/100
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Pulteney

1997
Collection
 for La Maison du Whisky
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 45 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
Cask number
single cask 1188
Dates
 Distil: 1997 Bottling: 2008
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 Forum 82/100
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Pulteney

Best Casks of Scotland 1998-2008
Age
 10 years
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
links & average quote
 85/100
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Northern Highlands

Northern Highlands map

Most of the distilleries of that area are settled on the wild and windy seaside between Narin and John 'O Groats, on the Eastern coast.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Northern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow