Old Pulteney 40 Year Old is a rare expression from the Wick distillery, which has operated since 1826 on the northern edge of mainland Scotland. Caithness is not a region often associated with very old whisky, yet the cool, damp climate encourages a gentle, measured maturation that allows well-chosen casks to reach forty years with dignity intact.
Bottled at its natural strength of 51.3% and without chill filtration, this is a heavyweight expression that nonetheless retains the waxy, maritime thread of the house style. The nose offers beeswax, dried fruit and cedar, with a distant note of the North Sea air that washes over Wick harbour daily. The palate is oily and deep, with dark honey, orange peel and the tropical notes that sometimes emerge in very old Highland malt. The finish runs long and dry.
Pulteney closed briefly in the mid-twentieth century and was revived in 1951, so casks at this age are precious. The distillery's characteristic flat-topped stills and long fermentation contribute to the heavy new-make that endures such extended aging. A contemplative dram from one of Scotland's most geographically remote working distilleries.
