Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Scotch
40% ABV (80 proof) | 12 years old | 750mL | Ex-bourbon casks only — Old Pulteney 12 Year Old is "the maritime malt": a 12-year-old Highland single malt Scotch whisky matured wholly in hand-selected, air-dried American oak ex-bourbon casks.
Distilled at Pulteney Distillery in Wick, Caithness — one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland, founded 1826 in a historic herring-fishing town — Old Pulteney is shaped by the Caithness coast. Coastal warehouses breathe salty sea air into the casks, and the distillery still uses traditional worm-tub condensers, a rarity in Scotland. The result is the signature maritime character: bright, briny, and unmistakably of the far north coast. A multi-gold-medal malt (per the distillery) and a standout in the spirits case for coastal-whisky lovers. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting notes
Per oldpulteney.com: warm glowing gold with a rich amber edge. Bright citrus and vanilla on the nose with the unmistakable salt-laden air of Wick. Honey and cream deepen into ripe fruit and fresh spice on the palate — finishing long, lively, and faintly salty.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- "The maritime malt" — sea-air character from coastal Caithness warehouses
- 12 years, 100% ex-bourbon casks — pure, classic Highland style
- Traditional worm-tub condensers — old-school distillation
- Multi-gold-medal winner at international competitions
How to serve it
Neat with a teaspoon of water — it lifts the citrus and sea-salt notes. A superb after-dinner dram.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called "the maritime malt"?
Pulteney Distillery sits in Wick on Scotland's far north coast, and its coastal warehouses impart a distinctive salty, sea-air character to the whisky.
Is Old Pulteney 12 peated?
No — it is an unpeated Highland malt matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks; the "smoke" some tasters find is sea air, not peat.