Our History | Distillery History:

Founded in 1826 by James Henderson at the height of Wick's celebrated herring boom, the Pulteney Distillery is the most northerly on the British mainland.

At a time when road links to the town were yet to be established, the distillery was dependent on the sea for its supply of barley and for the shipping out of its malt whisky.

Wick became known for the barrels of silver (herring) and gold (whisky) which left the port in vast numbers.

The distillery itself has an absorbing history, with its unique pot stills defying convention to this day. The wash still, in particular, is a source of fascination to visitors due to the absence of a 'swan neck'. Legend has it that when the still was delivered it was too tall for the still house and the manager simply decided to cut the top off!

The Old Pulteney bottle now incorporates a bulbous neck to reflect the shape of the stills.

Over time, the distillery has passed through the hands of various owners, and even closed during times of trouble for the industry in 1930.

However, throughout this history what has endured is the quality of the whisky. Traditional craftsmanship and the distillery's windswept location continue to contribute to the award-winning whisky that is Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch.

Our History | Story of Wick:

"It follows you everywhere and colours your life stream as the dye of the peat colours the hill burn and goes with it to the sea"

The words of Caithness author and poet, Pastor John Horne, writing about the lure of his homeland, may have been penned over 70 years ago, but they will still ring true to those who call Wick their home, wherever they may be in the world. Those who have never ventured to this corner of Scotland, which once could be reached only by sea from the south, may see Caithness in their mind's eye as a grey, desolate place, but its remoteness is an essential part of the area's charm. Winter waves may thunder against the rugged coastline, with Wick Bay and its historic harbour battered by many a spectacular storm down the years, but those in the know will also tell you of a Caithness vivid with colourful beauty, the shimmering waters of the Moray Firth and the swathes of moorland heather stretched out under a great canvas of sky, bathed in glorious sunshine. They will also tell of a Wick steeped in a history richer than towns many times its size, a history with which Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky is inseparable.

Our History | Story of Wick:

You don't have to look far to uncover Old Pulteney's clearest link with the history of Wick. Borne upon every bottle is the name of the man responsible for the transformation of what was once a village of just a few hundred souls into a burgeoning industrial town. Sir William Johnstone Pulteney's vision of a vibrant fishing port was realised by one of Scotland's most famous sons, civil engineer Thomas Telford. The creation of Wick's vast harbour and the accompanying settlement of Pultneytown in the early years of the 19th Century sparked a spectacular surge in herring fishing, the like of which had never been seen, with the glory days of the 'silver darlings' drawinog over 1000 boats and some 7000 workers to the port. This boom period coincided with the opening of the Pulteney Distillery, and Telford too played his part in the whisky's heritage, being responsible for the construction of the lade which carries the distillery's water from Loch Hempriggs. Many of the distillery's original workers were also herring fishermen, and the spirit of these old sea rovers is inherent in the whisky to this day, with a distinct hint of sea air said to be discernable in this treasured malt.

Our History | Story of Wick:

The sorry decline in herring shoals in the 20th Century saw Wick's association with the industry end shortly after the second world war. The distillery too fell upon troubled times, even closing its doors in 1930. However, the repeal of an oft-forgotten period of prohibition in 1947 saw the welcome resumption of whisky production, with the distillery passing through the hands of various owners before its purchase by Inver House Distillers in 1995. While the town remains a significant white fishing port, it is the whisky industry which has truly endured, and the distillery continues to produce malt whisky nearly 200 years after its opening, using the same traditional methods passed down through the centuries. It is a tradition which is intertwined with the history of the town, the depiction of a herring drifter on the Old Pulteney bottle providing a knowing nod towards Wick's ocean-going past. If further testament were needed to underline Old Pulteney's enduring link to the history of the town, then not for nothing is it known as 'The Genuine Maritime Malt.'

Our History | Story of Wick:

It is this spirit of endurance which characterises Wick today, its people earthy, unpretentious and with a quirky sense of humour. The herring fleets may be long gone, but the town's marvellous heritage centre provides an evocative experience of Wick life in times past, while the Pulteneytown regeneration scheme aims to combine contemporary living with the much-needed conservation of a historic part of the town. The distillery too is playing a pioneering role in the development of modern-day Wick, acting as the centrepiece in the implementation of the award-winning Wick District Heating Scheme Co-operative. A stroll up the hill towards the distillery affords a panoramic view of the town, the sheer scale of the harbour bearing testimony to a bygone age. It is heartening to hear of plans for an international yachting marina which could breathe new life into the once mighty port. To visit this part of the world is to be lured by a very certain sense of place and, like a taste for Old Pulteney, it's a lure that lasts.