Contents
Old Pulteney (Old Pulteney) – whiskey from the northernmost part of Highland County. The plant is located in the coastal zone and is owned by the British company Inver House Distillers, which is part of the Asian alcohol holding Thai Beverages. The peculiarity of this brand is the long exposure of whiskey in barrels dried in the open sea air, which gives the drinks a taste with well-distinguished salty notes.
Historical information
The Pulteneytown distillery was built in 1826 by Sir William Pulteney, one of the richest men in Britain at the time. The place was difficult to access, most of the ingredients were delivered on merchant ships. The staff of the plant consisted mostly of fishermen who caught herring in their free time. Whiskey had a special taste due to the proximity of sea waters.
Despite the difficulties with delivery, the distillery continued to operate successfully until 1922, when the local parliament voted for the introduction of Prohibition in the district. After that, the company lasted another eight years, but then closed due to a drop in sales. After the lifting of restrictions, the demand for whiskey went up, and the company was acquired by Robert Cumming. In 1951, production was restarted and never stopped.
The company changed several owners and in 1997 became the property of Inver House Distillers. Two years later, a XNUMX-year-old Old Pulteney was presented to the public, receiving international recognition and numerous gold awards. The factory uses old recipes for making whiskey, which have remained unchanged for almost two centuries.
Production features
The company purchases malt from the best suppliers in the UK, natural water comes from local sources. The company carefully monitors the quality of raw materials, making sure that the grains are intact. The wort is brewed in stainless steel vats with a copper top, and up to five tons of malt are processed per week.
Fermentation takes place in tanks with a volume of 23,5 thousand liters. The distillation shop is equipped with copper cubes with an unusual spherical top, which give the spirits a special aroma. Whiskey matures in casks that previously held bourbon and Spanish sherry. Oak containers are kept under sea winds for a long time so that the wood is properly saturated with salt.
Awards:
- IWSC, London – 2016;
- New York International Spirits Competition, Нью-Йорк – 2017;
- International Spirits Challenge, London – 2016, 2018;
- International Wine & Spirits Challenge, Лондон – 2018;
- San Francisco Wine & Spirits Challenge, San Francisco – 2016, 2018;
- World Whiskey Awards, London – 2018.
Interesting Facts
In 2013, Old Pulteney sailed around the world with the Clipper Round the World Race. The journey lasted exactly a year and ended safely in one of the harbors of London. The team took on board the best samples of the company’s drinks and successfully represented the brand in the most remote corners of the world.
Renowned expert Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21 Year Old the best drink of 2012 in his book The Whiskey Bible.
Types of whiskey Old Pulteney
Old Pulteney 12 Years Old, 40%
Made according to ancient technology, aged in bourbon barrels for 12 years. A light amber color drink with the aroma of malt, sea salt and apples. Algae, barley and honey appear in a bright taste. The finish has a fruity sweetness.
Old Pulteney 15 Years Old, 46%
Whiskey dark amber color is distinguished by a harmonious taste, in which salty notes compensate for the sweetness of chocolate and creamy toffee. The finish is bright and fresh, the sea salt comes out brighter. The aroma is rich with apple, peach and citrus nuances.
Old Pulteney 18 Years Old, 46%
Barrels for aging this variety are selected separately and carefully prepared. The color of the drink is dark amber, the smells of chocolate, honey and spices are mixed in the warming aroma. Slightly salty taste generously seasoned with hints of dried fruit, pepper, cocoa and honey. The long aftertaste is dominated by apple and citrus tones.
Old Pulteney Huddart, 46%
Single malt whiskey of golden color with the aroma of the sea and peat smoke. The bouquet reveals shades of leather, wood, creamy vanilla and green apple. The taste is perfectly balanced – sharp spices and vanilla compensate for the characteristic smoky shades. Finished with hints of salted caramel.
