Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Gift Box – 70cl
Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 70cl
Old Pulteney 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 70cl
Old Pulteney Highland Single Malt Whisky
The Maritime Malt — founded 1826 by James Henderson in Wick, Caithness. The most northerly mainland Scotch single malt distillery, with traditional warehouses exposed to invigorating North Sea air. Distinctive boat-shaped pot still and salty coastal house style. The flagship 12 Year Old (40% ABV, ex-bourbon matured), the premium 15 Year Old (46% ABV, with rich dried fruit and salty sea air finish), and the 12 Year Old Gift Box. Owned by Inver House Distillers (ThaiBev), sister to AnCnoc, Speyburn and Balblair. Buy Old Pulteney online in Singapore with free delivery and no minimum order.
Buy Old Pulteney Highland Single Malt Whisky in Singapore
Old Pulteney is a Highland coastal single malt Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1826 by James Henderson in Wick, Caithness — the most northerly mainland Scotch single malt distillery. The Liquid Collection stocks the Old Pulteney range available in Singapore — the flagship Old Pulteney 12 Year Old (matured wholly in air-dried hand-selected ex-bourbon casks at 40% ABV, the "definitive" maritime malt expression), the premium Old Pulteney 15 Year Old (46% ABV with rich dried fruit, ripe apples, citrus, honey, vanilla, fragrant spices and Christmas cake, finishing with a hint of salty sea air), and the Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Gift Box (the flagship paired with two branded glasses for elegant presentation). Old Pulteney is internationally branded as "The Maritime Malt" — a reference to the distillery's coastal Wick location overlooking the North Sea, the salty coastal influence on its house style, and Wick's historic role as Europe's herring-fishing capital. The distillery's iconic boat-shaped pot still further reinforces the maritime brand identity.
Every bottle ships free across Singapore with no minimum order and standard 3-working-day delivery. Browse the Old Pulteney selection above, or explore the wider Scotch whisky category, the direct Inver House sisters at AnCnoc, Speyburn and Balblair, comparable Highland flagships at Glenmorangie, Aberfeldy and The Dalmore, the Japanese-owned coastal Highland sister at Ben Nevis, our luxury gifts selection, or the prestige Fine & Rare range.
Old Pulteney — Key Facts at a Glance
- Brand
- Old Pulteney — "The Maritime Malt"
- Distillery
- Pulteney Distillery, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
- Founded
- 1826, by James Henderson
- Region
- Highlands (Northern Highlands, Caithness coast)
- Geographic Distinction
- The most northerly mainland Scotch single malt distillery
- Owner
- Inver House Distillers (since 1995); ThaiBev parent (since 2006)
- Sister Distilleries
- AnCnoc, Speyburn, Balblair, Balmenach
- Distinctive Production
- Boat-shaped flat-topped wash still — iconic and unique to Old Pulteney
- House Style
- Salty, coastal, briny, maritime — "The Maritime Malt"
- Notable History
- Mothballed 1930-1951 (21 years); Wick was a "dry town" 1922-1947
- Current Range
- 12 Year Old (40% ABV), 15 Year Old (46% ABV), 12 Year Old Gift Box
- Cask Programme
- Air-dried hand-selected ex-bourbon casks (12yo); ex-bourbon and ex-sherry (15yo)
1826 — James Henderson's Wick distillery
Old Pulteney was founded in 1826 by James Henderson in the town of Wick, Caithness, in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. The 1826 founding date places Old Pulteney among the foundational era of licensed Scotch single malt distilleries — three years after the 1823 Excise Act that created the modern licensed Scotch whisky industry, and contemporary with foundational distilleries like Fettercairn (1824), Glenlivet (1824), Ben Nevis (1825), Edradour (1825), and Cardhu (1824). The distillery's name comes from Pulteneytown — the planned harbour town built between 1808 and 1810 by Sir William Pulteney specifically to support the booming British herring-fishing trade, with Wick as the central hub of the industry. Henderson chose the site for its access to local Caithness barley, pure water from local sources, and direct integration into Wick's intense maritime industrial economy. By the mid-19th century, Wick was the herring-fishing capital of Europe, with hundreds of fishing boats operating from the harbour — and Old Pulteney sat directly within this maritime industrial heritage.
Old Pulteney's history through the 20th century was unusually turbulent for a working Scotch single malt distillery, driven by a remarkable combination of national and local factors. The distillery was mothballed in 1930 during the post-1929 Wall Street Crash and Great Depression — an industry-wide period of distillery closures driven by collapsing global Scotch demand. Even more distinctively, the town of Wick itself was officially "dry" — operating under a complete local alcohol prohibition from 1922 to 1947 after a successful local temperance vote — meaning Old Pulteney could not sell whisky in its own home town for 25 years. The combination of Depression-era industry collapse and Wick's unusual local prohibition made operations untenable, and the distillery remained silent through most of this period. The 1951 reopening came after the lifting of Wick's local prohibition (1947) and at the dawn of one of the biggest growth booms in the history of whisky. Inver House Distillers acquired Old Pulteney in 1995 — alongside AnCnoc, Speyburn, Balblair and Balmenach — and the brand has been continuously operational ever since under Inver House and ThaiBev (since 2006) ownership.
Why Old Pulteney — the boat-shaped still and the maritime warehouses
The iconic boat-shaped pot still
Old Pulteney's wash still is one of the most distinctive pot stills in all of Scotch whisky — a flat-topped, boat-shaped configuration unlike the standard swan-neck pot stills used at virtually every other Scotch single malt distillery. The flat top of the wash still was reportedly the result of an early-history mishap: when the original copper still was first installed at the distillery in the 19th century, it was discovered to be too tall for the original distillery building, requiring the top to be sawn off as an emergency workaround. The distinctive flat-topped configuration that resulted has remained a feature of Old Pulteney production ever since, and has become the brand's defining technical signature. The flat-top configuration affects the still's reflux behaviour during distillation — heavier vapours condense and fall back into the still rather than passing through to the condenser — producing a fuller-bodied, oilier, more characterful spirit than typical Scotch single malt distilleries. The boat-shape ties directly to Wick's seafaring heritage: the still resembles the bow of a fishing boat, providing a perfect visual metaphor for the brand's "Maritime Malt" identity.
Warehouses on the North Sea
Old Pulteney's traditional warehouses sit directly within the Wick distillery site, with the North Sea immediately outside and the maturing whisky exposed to invigorating sea air during the long ageing process. The brand's marketing leans directly on this maritime maturation story: "with traditional warehouses exposed to the invigorating sea air blowing in off the North Sea, Old Pulteney captures the taste of the sea in every drop of its liquid gold." The salt air, the maritime humidity, and the constant temperature moderation provided by the North Sea all contribute subtle coastal character to the whisky during long maturation in the warehouses. The result is the distinctive salty, briny, coastal house style that runs through every Old Pulteney expression — the 12 Year Old's "salty and unctuous" palate, the 15 Year Old's "hint of salty sea air on the finish," and the consistent maritime signature across the whole range. The combination of the boat-shaped still and the North Sea warehouses creates the genuinely most authentic maritime-influenced Scotch single malt available.
The Old Pulteney house style — salty, coastal, briny
Across the range, Old Pulteney is defined by its signature salty, coastal, briny and elegantly maritime Highland character — the central stylistic signature that has earned the brand its "Maritime Malt" identity. The flagship Old Pulteney 12 Year Old (matured wholly in air-dried hand-selected ex-bourbon casks at 40% ABV) offers an elegant, lightly smoky nose with toasted and fruity notes; a salty, unctuous palate marked by malted barley; and a tangy, floral finish — a profile the distillery describes as "unashamedly excellent." The Old Pulteney 15 Year Old (46% ABV) reaches deeper: rich amber colour with intense yet balanced aroma of rich dried fruit, ripe apples, citrus, honey sweetness, creamy vanilla, and chocolaty floral background notes. Fragrant spices and Christmas cake on the palate, with layers of chocolate and distinct dark toffee sweetness. Hint of salty sea air on the finish — a clear connection to the influence of the sea on this single malt. Compared to other coastal-influenced Highland single malts: Glenmorangie wears its tall-still ester-light Highland innovation; The Dalmore wears its Cromarty Firth prestige sherried character; Ben Nevis wears its heavy oily Nikka-anchored character. Old Pulteney wears its boat-shaped still and salty Wick maritime authenticity.
The Old Pulteney range
The complete Inver House family — four sister distilleries on TLC
Old Pulteney is one of four Inver House Distillers single malt brands stocked at The Liquid Collection — alongside AnCnoc, Speyburn and Balblair. All four are owned by the same Glasgow-based Inver House group, all four are part of the Asian-owned ThaiBev portfolio (since 2006), and all four are widely respected as "hidden gem" single malts that punch above their price point. With Old Pulteney now added, TLC carries the most complete Inver House cluster comparison available — four distinct brands offering four distinct stylistic positions under the same ownership.
| Distillery | Old Pulteney | Balblair | AnCnoc | Speyburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1826 | 1790 | 1894 | 1897 |
| Region | Northern Highlands (Caithness coast) | Northern Highlands (Easter Ross) | Highlands (Aberdeenshire) | Speyside (Glen of Rothes) |
| Location | Wick, Caithness | Edderton, Easter Ross | Knock, Aberdeenshire | Rothes, Speyside |
| Distinctive Production | Boat-shaped flat-topped wash still | Pre-1823 heritage; standard pot stills | Traditional outdoor worm tub condensers | First Scottish malt distillery to use steam heat |
| House Style | Salty, coastal, briny — "The Maritime Malt" | Light, fresh, fruity Northern Highland | Speyside-adjacent with worm tub weight | Light, crisp, citrus-forward Speyside |
| Standard ABV (core) | 40% (12yo); 46% (15yo) | 46% (Heritage Range) | 40% (12 Year Old) | 40% (10 Year Old) |
| TLC Range | 12yo, 15yo, 12yo Gift Box | 12, 15, 18 Year Old | 12, 18 Year Old | 10 Year Old |
For collectors building a complete Inver House cluster, the four brands now stocked at TLC offer the most thorough same-portfolio comparison available in modern Scotch single malt — four distinct distilleries spanning the Northern Highlands (Old Pulteney + Balblair), Highland (AnCnoc) and Speyside (Speyburn) regions, four distinct production techniques (boat-shaped stills, traditional pot stills, worm tubs, steam heat), and four distinct house styles, all under one Glasgow-based ownership group with ThaiBev parent.
Wick — Europe's herring-fishing capital and the dry town
Understanding Old Pulteney requires understanding Wick — the town where the distillery has stood since 1826, and one of the most genuinely interesting maritime communities in 19th-century Britain. Wick was the herring-fishing capital of Europe by the mid-19th century, with the Pulteneytown harbour built between 1808 and 1810 specifically to support the booming British herring trade. At its peak, the Wick herring fleet had over 1,000 fishing boats operating from the harbour, with thousands of seasonal workers (including many "herring lassies" — itinerant women who travelled the British coast to gut and pack herring) descending on Wick during the summer fishing seasons. Old Pulteney was founded in 1826 directly within this intense maritime industrial setting, with the herring industry providing the economic foundation of the entire local community. By the late 19th century, herring stocks had declined and the Wick fishing industry contracted — but the maritime character of the town and its connection to the sea remained foundational.
One of the most genuinely unusual chapters in Old Pulteney's history is the Wick prohibition. In 1922, after a successful local temperance vote, Wick became officially "dry" — meaning the sale of alcohol was prohibited in the town. The dry status remained in place until 1947 — a 25-year period during which Old Pulteney Distillery existed and (until 1930) operated within a town where it could not legally sell its own whisky. The dry status was driven partly by genuine local temperance sentiment and partly by the alcohol-related social problems associated with the previous herring-industry-era population peaks. The Old Pulteney distillery was mothballed in 1930 during the Great Depression-era industry collapse, and remained silent through the dry years until reopening in 1951 — four years after Wick's dry status was lifted in 1947. For collectors and gift-buyers, the Wick prohibition heritage is one of the most genuinely distinctive brand stories in modern Scotch — a piece of British social history embedded directly in the distillery's modern identity.
Old Pulteney and the Highland coastal landscape
Among the great Highland single malts, Old Pulteney occupies a particular position: the most northerly mainland Scotch single malt, the genuinely maritime Wick coastal distillery with the iconic boat-shaped still and salty briny house style. Where Glenmorangie wears its LVMH-backed tall-still innovation from Tain, The Dalmore wears its Whyte & Mackay prestige sherried positioning from Alness, Aberfeldy wears its Bacardi-led honey-driven Perthshire heritage, Balblair wears its 1790 Edderton Northern Highland legacy, Ben Nevis wears its Japanese-Nikka cross-cultural distinctiveness from Fort William, AnCnoc wears its worm-tub-distinguished Knockdhu Inver House signature, and Edradour wears its independent Pitlochry small-scale authenticity, Old Pulteney wears its Wick "Maritime Malt" boat-shaped-still authenticity. For Singapore collectors building a complete Highland regional cluster, Old Pulteney anchors the genuine maritime-coastal dimension that no inland Highland producer can match. For Inver House collectors completing the four-sister portfolio, Old Pulteney is the maritime cornerstone of the cluster.
Old Pulteney FAQ
What is Old Pulteney?
Old Pulteney is a Highland coastal single malt Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1826 by James Henderson in the town of Wick, Caithness, in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. The distillery is the most northerly mainland Scotch single malt distillery (only the Highland Park and Scapa distilleries on Orkney are further north, and they are island distilleries rather than mainland). Old Pulteney is internationally branded as "The Maritime Malt" — a reference to the distillery's coastal location overlooking the North Sea, the salty coastal influence on its house style, and Wick's heritage as Europe's herring-fishing capital in the 19th century. The distillery is distinguished by its iconic boat-shaped pot still — a flat-topped wash still with a distinctive shape unlike standard Scotch single malt stills. Old Pulteney has been owned by Inver House Distillers since 1995, sister to AnCnoc, Speyburn and Balblair.
What does Old Pulteney taste like?
Old Pulteney's signature house style is salty, coastal, briny and elegantly maritime — defined by the distillery's coastal Wick location, the boat-shaped pot still, and the warehouses exposed to North Sea air during maturation. The flagship Old Pulteney 12 Year Old (40% ABV, matured wholly in air-dried hand-selected ex-bourbon casks) offers an elegant, lightly smoky nose with toasted and fruity notes; a salty, unctuous palate marked by malted barley; and a tangy, floral finish. The Old Pulteney 15 Year Old (46% ABV) delivers rich amber colour with an intense yet balanced aroma of rich dried fruit, ripe apples, citrus, honey sweetness, creamy vanilla, with chocolaty floral background notes. Fragrant spices and Christmas cake on the palate, with layers of chocolate and distinct dark toffee sweetness, finishing with a hint of salty sea air. The saline coastal influence is the central stylistic signature across the range.
Why is Old Pulteney called The Maritime Malt?
Old Pulteney is called "The Maritime Malt" because the distillery's location, history, and house style are all deeply tied to the sea. The distillery sits in Wick, on the far north-east coast of Scotland, with the North Sea directly outside the distillery walls and traditional warehouses exposed to invigorating sea air during maturation. Wick itself was the herring-fishing capital of Europe in the 19th century, with Pulteneytown (the planned harbour town that gives the distillery its name) at the heart of the British herring trade — meaning the distillery was founded directly within Scotland's most important maritime industry. The North Sea coastal air influences the maturing whisky in the warehouses, contributing the salty, briny, coastal character that defines Old Pulteney's house style across every age tier.
What is the boat-shaped pot still?
Old Pulteney's wash still is one of the most distinctive pot stills in all of Scotch whisky — a flat-topped, boat-shaped configuration unlike the standard swan-neck pot stills used at virtually every other Scotch single malt distillery. The flat top of the wash still was reportedly the result of an early-history mishap when the original copper still was too tall for the original distillery building, requiring the top to be sawn off — a workaround that has since become the brand's defining technical signature. The flat-top configuration affects the still's reflux behaviour during distillation: heavier vapours condense and fall back into the still rather than passing to the condenser, producing a fuller-bodied, oilier, more characterful spirit than typical Scotch malt distilleries. The boat-shape ties directly to Wick's seafaring heritage and the brand's "Maritime Malt" positioning.
Where is Old Pulteney made?
Old Pulteney is made at the Pulteney Distillery in the town of Wick, Caithness, in the Northern Highlands of Scotland — on the far north-east coast, approximately 17 miles south of John o' Groats (the northernmost point of mainland Britain). The distillery is the most northerly mainland Scotch single malt distillery, with only Highland Park and Scapa (both on Orkney) sitting further north overall. The site sits in the centre of Wick, with the North Sea directly outside the distillery walls and traditional warehouses exposed to invigorating sea air during maturation. Wick was historically the herring-fishing capital of Europe — Pulteneytown, the planned harbour town that gives the distillery its name, was built between 1808 and 1810 specifically to support the booming British herring trade.
Why was Old Pulteney closed for so long?
Old Pulteney was mothballed in 1930 and remained closed for 21 years until reopening in 1951 — one of the longer closure periods in 20th-century Scotch whisky history, driven by a remarkable combination of national and local factors. The 1930 closure came during the post-1929 Wall Street Crash and Great Depression. Even more distinctively, the town of Wick was "dry" — operating under a complete alcohol prohibition from 1922 to 1947, after a successful local temperance vote — meaning Old Pulteney could not sell whisky in its own home town for 25 years even when it was operational. The combination of Depression-era industry collapse and Wick's local prohibition made operations untenable, and the distillery remained silent through most of this period. The 1951 reopening came after the lifting of Wick's local prohibition (1947) and at the dawn of one of the biggest growth booms in the history of whisky.
Who owns Old Pulteney?
Old Pulteney is owned by Inver House Distillers, the Scotch whisky group that has been a subsidiary of Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) since 2006. Inver House acquired Old Pulteney in 1995. Sister single malt distilleries within the Inver House portfolio include AnCnoc/Knockdhu (Aberdeenshire — founded 1894), Speyburn (Glen of Rothes, Speyside — founded 1897), Balblair (Edderton, Highlands — founded 1790), and Balmenach (Cromdale, Speyside — founded 1824). The Inver House group also produces Hankey Bannister and Catto's blended Scotch. ThaiBev (Thai Beverage Public Company Limited), headquartered in Bangkok, is one of Southeast Asia's largest beverage companies and the parent of Chang Beer, Mekhong Spirit, and many other regional drinks brands.
Old Pulteney vs AnCnoc vs Speyburn vs Balblair — what's the difference?
Old Pulteney, AnCnoc, Speyburn and Balblair are the four single malt distilleries owned by Inver House Distillers and stocked at The Liquid Collection — all part of the ThaiBev group since 2006. Each occupies a distinct stylistic position. Old Pulteney (Wick, Caithness — Northern Highlands, founded 1826) is "The Maritime Malt" — coastal, salty, briny, defined by Wick's coastal heritage and boat-shaped pot still. AnCnoc/Knockdhu (Aberdeenshire — Highland, founded 1894) is the worm-tub-distinguished Highland with light fruit-forward character. Speyburn (Glen of Rothes, Speyside — founded 1897) is the citrus-forward Speyside with steam heat heritage. Balblair (Edderton, Easter Ross — Northern Highlands, founded 1790) is the heritage Highland with light fresh fruity character at 46% ABV in the Heritage Range. For collectors building an Inver House cluster, the four brands offer four distinct stylistic approaches.
Is Old Pulteney a good gift?
Yes — Old Pulteney is one of the most genuinely distinctive Highland single malt gift choices available, particularly for whisky drinkers who appreciate coastal-influenced character, unusual brand stories, and authentic maritime heritage. The Old Pulteney 12 Year Old is the universal flagship gift bottle. The Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Gift Box pairs the flagship with two branded glasses for elegant presentation gifting. The Old Pulteney 15 Year Old is the considered choice for serious Highland-single-malt drinkers seeking richer, more layered coastal character at 46% ABV. The 1826 founding heritage, the most-northerly-mainland-Scotch heritage, the Wick herring-fishing-capital story, the dry-town 1922-1947 prohibition heritage, the iconic boat-shaped pot still, and the genuinely maritime house style all give Old Pulteney unusually rich gift storytelling. See our wider gifts selection for presentation options.
Do you deliver Old Pulteney across Singapore?
Yes. Free delivery anywhere in Singapore with no minimum order. Standard lead time is 3 working days.