Old Pulteney Sails Into the Blue with Exquisite 40 Year Old Release

In a year that has seen Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky hailed as ‘World Whisky of the Year’, the Pulteney Distillery in Wick has unveiled a truly exceptional release for whisky lovers as 2012 draws to a close.

In celebration of the oldest Pulteney bottling to date and to reflect the quality and rarity of the whisky, every aspect of the Limited Edition 40 Year Old expression is exquisite and designed to embody the intrigue, craft and history of the ‘Maritime Malt’.

The expertise of Pulteney Distillery Manager, Malcolm Waring lies at the heart of each bottle, with Malcolm personally selecting and hand-filling each one individually from the ex American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks where this fine malt has been maturing over the decades.

The time-honoured skills of one of Britain’s finest glass producers, Tudor Crystal Design, have been deployed in the creation of the hand-blown Old Pulteney 40 Year Old bottle. Their craftsmen have fashioned a most striking and intricate design – retaining the original Old Pulteney bottle shape but deepest blue in colour with a shimmering silver ‘wave’ motif, created by blowing solid silver into the dark glass as it was crafted.

Each closure for the 40 Year Old bottle is unique, hewn by local Caithness stonemasons from a single Caithness flagstone, carefully whittled down into a series of unique pieces which were then individually polished and milled into the perfect stopper shape. A Scottish hallmarked solid silver roundel depicting the age of the whisky completes the bottle’s premium finish.

The luxurious design continues with a highest quality dark blue gloss lacquered wooden gift box, silver etched with the Old Pulteney logo and a classic herring drifter image. A hand-signed book written by whisky expert Charles MacLean, telling the fascinating tale of Old Pulteney’s history, completes the 40 Year Old’s presentation.

Inside each distinctive bottle lies the superb Old Pulteney 40 Year Old whisky itself. Rich amber in appearance with a red hue, it has a fruity and floral aroma, slightly spicy with hints of oranges, green apples and butterscotch. Sweet and spicy on the palate, it has traces of toffee and pears, leading to a full bodied and long-lasting finish with sherry notes.

Old Pulteney Senior Brand Manager Margaret Mary Clarke explains that the 40 Year Old has been a labour of love for all at Pulteney Distillery: ‘The release of this wonderful 40 Year Old whisky is a fitting way to conclude 2012, which has been an exceptional year for Old Pulteney around the world. Malcolm and his team at the distillery have shown real dedication in bottling a whisky of the highest calibre which embodies the finest elements of Old Pulteney with even deeper complexity and character in every bottle.’

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky is crafted at the most northerly distillery on the UK mainland in Wick. The distillery was founded in 1826 at the height of Wick’s herring boom and it’s this maritime heritage that gives the whisky its identity as the Maritime Malt.  Already a favourite tipple for whisky drinkers in the UK, Old Pulteney has developed global appeal and won a host of highly acclaimed international awards.

Old Pulteney 40 Year Old is bottled at natural strength and colour and is non chill-filtered. Its RSP is £1490 per bottle

Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky

Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky, is diligently crafted at Pulteney Distillery in Wick. It is the most northerly distillery on the UK Mainland and was founded in 1826 by James Henderson at the height of Wick’s herring boom.  The distillery lies in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, which was created for all the fishermen at the time, and is embedded in the deep rooting history of this coastal town, which used to be one of the most important and biggest herring fishing ports in Europe. In 2012, Old Pulteney 21 Year Old was awarded the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Old Pulteney 12 year old is also in the UK Top 10 Single Malt Whiskies and Top 20 in Global Travel Retail.

International Beverage Holdings (http://www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (http://www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.

International Beverage brands include:

➢  Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand

➢  Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn

➢  Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister

➢  Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941

➢  Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network.  Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of people of more than 12 nationalities, speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.