Pulteney 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 9) – Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) | 700ML

Detailed Description

This single malt from the Pulteney distillery spent 14 years maturing between May 2008 and July 2022. Initially filled into ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky was then treated to a generous 48-month finishing period in a first-fill sherry butt, which was finally opened up by indie bottler Signatory, releasing a total of 666 bottles for the Cask Strength Collection.

Pulteney 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 9) – Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) | 700ML Tasting Notes

Nose: Poached pears, sultanas, unburnt tobacco, with a touch of salt on the nose as well.

Palate: Fruit comes through much richer and darker than on the nose. Those big, red ‘sherry fruit tones’ in abundance, but also some vanilla and buttery notes from those bourbon barrels, some pepper there too – big on the first sip, but settles thereafter.

Finish: Nice hearty and long finish, the pepper presents at the front of my tongue in waves, whilst the stewed fruit seems to sit on my cheeks. That sea-side salty nuance re-appears as well.

Distillery Information

During the nineteenth century, the town of Wick was the herring fishing capital of Europe and as many as 1,000 boats used the port. Indeed, Pulteneytown, the area of Wick south of the river, was built for this purpose in 1810 by its namesake, Sir William Pulteney. The Pulteney distillery itself was founded by James Hendersen in 1826. Lying close to the coast to the south of Wick, the distillery was only accessible by sea and to this day remains Scotland’s northernmost mainland distillery. The whisky was exported on boats and barley was shipped in and its maritime traditions were such that distillery workers also moonlighted as fishermen. Pulteney operated under Buchanan-Dewar, who became part of Distillers Company Limited in 1925. Five years later the stills of Pulteney fell silent. It was not before two decades had passed, that production restarted, following Robert Cumming’s acquisition in 1951. Allied Breweries purchased the distillery along with parent company James & George Stodart Ltd in 1961. Following the acquisition of Pedro Domecq, Allied sold the Pulteney whisky distillery to Inver House Distillers who remain the owners, though since 2006 they have been under Thai Beverage control. The distillery is relatively small with a capacity of just one million litres annually. Single malt whisky is bottled under the name Old Pulteney and there have been both official and independent releases over the years.