The tide has turned on whisky history with the announcement that Old Pulteney is releasing not one, but two, ultra-rare single malts to commemorate its 200th anniversary in 2026. The showstopper? A 50-year-old expression, billed as the oldest whisky ever released by the Wick-based distillery, accompanied by a distinctive 30-year-old bottling that's sure to send waves through the whisky world.
Founded on Scotland's rugged northern coastline in 1826, Old Pulteney has long been synonymous with the sea, earning its whiskies the nickname "The Maritime Malt". This deep connection between land and sea is at the heart of these new limited-edition releases, designed to bottle the essence of two centuries of whisky-making on the windswept Caithness coast.
The 50-year-old single malt, a true landmark for the distillery, has been drawn from four hogshead casks that have spent half a century maturing in Old Pulteney's coastal warehouses. Aged predominantly in American oak with a subtle finish in European oak, these casks have weathered the salt-laden air and challenging conditions of the coast over decades. Bottled at 40.8 per cent ABV, it promises to deliver notes of candied orange peel, citrus oils, and chocolate, complemented by delicate oak influences and a lingering coastal finish. Only 200 bottles will be made available worldwide, each housed in a hand-blown lead crystal decanter with intricate wave detailing and presented in a handcrafted oak display case – and it'll set you back £20,000.
Accompanying this flagship release is the 30-year-old single malt, created exclusively for the bicentenary celebrations. Limited to 1,000 bottles globally, this expression was matured in American oak before being refined in European oak casks by none other than distillery manager Malcolm Waring himself, who personally filled these casks three decades ago. Bottled at 50.4 per cent ABV, it's said to deliver aromas of sugared almonds, orchard fruits, and sweet oak, with flavours of citrus, pear, salted caramel, and warming spice – all for a recommended retail price of £1,750, presented in a crystal decanter with rose-gold detailing and maritime-inspired engraving.
For Old Pulteney's master of whisky creation, Sarah Burgess, these anniversary releases were crafted to embody the distillery's heritage and unique coastal setting. She hailed the 50-year-old and 30-year-old whiskies as exceptional tributes to two centuries of distilling shaped by exposure to the elements on Scotland’s northern coast – and both expressions are expected to be available through selected specialist retailers from June 2026, marking not only a celebration of Old Pulteney's past but also a statement of its future ambitions as it enters its third century of production.