OLD PULTENEY - Huddart - 46%
Old Pulteney is one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland. It was built in 1826 in the Pulteneytown area of the fishing village of Wick by James Henderson, a gentleman distiller who saw a business opportunity in the booming town. For many years, the distillery was only accessible by sea, with barley imported and whiskey shipped. The distillery was put on hold between 1930 and 1951 due to the financial crisis and Prohibition. It was rebuilt in 1958.
The site uses a water mill, built - like Pultneytown - by renowned engineer Thomas Telford and was surely intended to power a barley mill. It is linked to Loch Hempriggs 3 kilometres inland. The malt, sourced from various locations in the UK, is unpeated. American oak and ex-Sherry Spanish oak barrels are used for maturation.
The distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers, the Scotch Whiskey division of International Beverage of Thailand, which also operates Balblair, Knockdhu, Speyburn and Balmenach.
Huddart is one of four expressions released by Old Pulteney in mid-2018, Huddart is named after the street on which the distillery resides. Following a finishing period in that previously held peated whisky, this is a slightly smoky and intense dram.
Slightly Peated
