Old Pulteney 12 Year Old: The Maritime Malt from Wick — Coastal Salt and Green Apples from Scotland's Most Northerly Town

Item: Old Pulteney 12 Year Old: The Maritime Malt from Wick — Coastal Salt and Green Apples from Scotland's Most Northerly Town
Rating: 7
Author: Joe Whitfield

Joe Whitfield April 10, 2026 1 views

7 /10

EDITOR

Distillery: Old Pulteney Distillery
Type: Scotch
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40% ABV
Price: £35

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and vibrant — green apples, citrus, honey, sea breeze, salt, vanilla, light oak, the maritime character immediately evident

Palate

Smooth and medium-bodied — crisp apples, toffee, sweet malt, lemon zest, creamy vanilla, gentle briny tang, the bourbon cask providing sweetness to balance the coastal salinity

Finish

Clean and long — salt, light oak, delicate sweetness, the maritime roots persisting in the warm close

First Impressions

Old Pulteney — the maritime malt from Wick, once the herring capital of Europe. The distillery sits on the harbour. The 12 Year Old is entirely bourbon cask-matured, the bourbon sweetness balancing the characteristic coastal salinity.

Tasting

Fresh apple and sea breeze nose. Smooth palate with toffee and briny tang. Clean long finish with salt.

The Verdict

Old Pulteney 12 earns a 7 — no frills maritime malt. The coastal character is genuine, not marketing. At £35, Scotland's far north in a glass.

Where to Buy

Master of Malt
£32.95

Buy Now

The Whisky Exchange
£35.95

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Joe Whitfield

Editor-in-Chief

Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the whiskey industry, beginning his career at a Speyside distillery before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief at Whiskeyful.com, he oversees...