This distillery unveils its oldest official whisky ever

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 09:51

The Pulteney Distillery in Wick turns 200 this year. Hints of a special release have quietly popped up across various channels, but guess what? The distillery had another surprise in store. Not one, but two whiskies have been unveiled: Old Pulteney 50 Years Old and Old Pulteney 30 Years Old.

These limited editions mark the distillery’s milestone birthday by celebrating its maritime soul, craftsmanship, and rich heritage. Since 1826, it has been known as The Maritime Malt. Both releases are limited. Old Pulteney 50 Years Old is the oldest official bottling Old Pulteney has ever released.

Old Pulteney 50 Years Old: the oldest Old Pulteney ever

Old Pulteney 50 Years Old is a rare whisky that marries five decades of maturation with the bracing influence of the Caithness coast, home to the distillery. It matured primarily in American oak casks, with a touch of European oak influence added through a secondary maturation.

Thanks to its long slumber, the whisky is remarkably vibrant and complex. On the nose, this Old Pulteney carries salty, maritime notes intertwined with plum jam, green apple, silky vanilla, toasted bread, marmalade, and a hint of leather. The palate opens dry and lightly briny, layered with cask char, toffee apple, cardamom, clove, and sweet tobacco. The finish is long, starting dry and shifting into a surprisingly sweet wave of vanilla.

The whisky comes in a hand-blown crystal decanter by Glencairn Crystal, adorned with wave motifs and presented in a luxurious driftwood-inspired wooden case. The price tag is substantial: 20,000 pounds will bring this bottle home.

Old Pulteney 30 Years Old: powerful, elegant, and maritime

Like its older sibling, Old Pulteney 30 Years Old matured in American oak followed by European oak. The casks were personally filled by distillery manager Malcolm Waring, adding an extra layer of significance to this anniversary bottling.

On the nose, expect a rich interplay of candied almonds, sweet oak, pear, green apple, toffee, citrus, leather, and tobacco. The signature maritime influence of Old Pulteney is present here too.

On the palate you’ll find fresh citrus, crisp pear, salted caramel, baked apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and polished oak. The finish is medium to long, gracefully balancing sweet and saline notes.

This bottle can be yours for 1750 pounds.

Limited edition whiskies for collectors and enthusiasts

These whiskies are highly exclusive and won’t be widely available on shelves. Both releases can only be purchased after registering interest via the distillery’s website.

FAQ

What makes Old Pulteney 50 Years Old special?
Old Pulteney 50 Years Old is the oldest official bottling ever released by Old Pulteney. Only 200 bottles are available worldwide, with an RRP of £20,000.
How many bottles of Old Pulteney 30 Years Old are there?
There will be 1,000 bottles of Old Pulteney 30 Years Old. This limited edition carries an RRP of £1,750.
What is Old Pulteney known for?
Old Pulteney is known as The Maritime Malt. Distilled in Wick on Scotland’s north coast, its whiskies are renowned for their distinctive maritime character with subtle saline notes.