Old Pulteney Strana 1 z 1

The distillery was founded by James Henderson in 1826 and named after the newly established area of Pulteneytown in Wick. At that time, it was (and still is) one of the northernmost distilleries on the Scottish mainland and due to the lack of regular roads, it was only accessible by sea. Raw barley was brought in by ship and the whisky was then transported by distillery workers who were also herring fishermen.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, herring fishing experienced a boom and Wick soon became the largest European port for herring fishing, attracting a huge influx of fishermen, gutters, and packers looking for work. The population of the small port town nearly quadrupled. After long shifts, workers frequented many pubs and licensed bars in Wick, which unfortunately for the permanent residents meant continuous drunkenness and "indecent" behavior spilling out onto the streets.

In 1920, under the Temperance (Scotland) Act of 1913, residents cast their votes and the port - along with others in Scotland including Kilsyth, Kirkintilloch, and Lerwick - became "dry." All pubs in the town were closed and in 1930 the Pulteney distillery was shut down.

The ban remained in effect even during World War II, when many soldiers passed through needing to have a drink or two. The ban ended in 1947 and when post-war demand for whisky increased, the new owner Robert "Bertie" Cumming decided to reopen the Pulteney Distillery, and production was eventually resumed in 1951.

In 1958, the distillery under new ownership, J&G Stodart Ltd., underwent extensive renovations, during which the traditional floor maltings were decommissioned - these spaces now house our visitor center.

Today, herring fishing is long gone, but the Pulteney distillery remains unbroken. The team of distillers led by Malcolm Waring produces approximately 900,000 liters of single malt Scotch whisky annually. Their dedication to the craft embodies the heritage, spirit, and heart of Wick - each of them is proud to produce Old Pulteney, the coastal malt whisky.