The whisky with the bubble the boiler

In the course of the 19. century was the town of Wick in northern Scotland, the whole of Europe sildefiskhovedstad, and more than 1,000 boats used the port. Was actually Pulteneytown, the area south of the river, built for this purpose in 1810 by its namesake, Sir William Pulteney. Sir William Johnstone Pulteney was a very vocal person, and it was a common expression in the city, that you had heard the Old Pulteney comment on your and dat.

The Pulteney distillery was founded by James Henderson in 1826. It was a convenient location close to the harbour, where there should be build, and when the whisky was sold again. And so it helped also that there were several thousand thirsty fishermen in the city. At the time there were no less than 48 bars in the city. James Henderson had a local appropriation from the village of Latheron, of which he had had in five years, even though rumors went about, that he had the distillery in more than 30 years.

Pulteney was for many years the northernmost distillery on the mainland of Scotland, but a few years ago, opened Wolfburn and took the this position. James henderson's descendants drive the distillery until 1920. Then operated the distillery under the Buchanan-Dewar, who became part of Distillers Company Limited in 1925. Five years later the production was put on hold, and it would take 21 years before the one in 1951 could see the steam from the boilers at the distillery. One of the reasons was, that in 1922 was a ban on alcohol in the region, driven by especially the evangelical movement, also found in the UNITED states. And first in 1947, it was again allowed to enjoy alcohol in the north of Scotland.

It was Robert Cumming, who had taken over the distillery at the time, but he sold it already passed in 1955, together with its second distillery, Balblair, to James & George Stodart. They put a major refurbishment in time and topple also to close the malteriet, as several others, and instead rely on buying malt from the outside. In 1961 took over the Allied Breweries and distilled up to 1995, where acquired by Inver House Destillers, which today still owns the distillery, even if they are owned by thai Pacific Spirits.

The real breakthrough came in 2011, when whiskyguruen Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21-years as the best scotch whisky. All of a sudden got all eye of the small, northern distillery.

the Distillery is relatively small with a capacity of only 1.8 million litres annually, of which p.t. produced good 1.3 million litres. The house's single malt whisky is tapped under the name of Old Pulteney, and there have been many both official and independent releases over the years. Working with a mæskningskar made of steel but with a kobberbeklædning, purely for visual sake, as destillery manager Malcolm Waring says with a wry smile. For you as a scot are not accustomed to spending money on unnecessary things; but with over 14,000 visitors annually to the distillery also appear as beautiful and inviting.

the Water comes from the lake, the Loch of Hempriggs by means of Europe's longest moellebaek of 4.5 km with a fall of 3.8 metres. There are seven gæringskar, all of steel, where you ferment with dry yeast. Around 60 hours, take a fermentation process typically. Then distilled on one set of boilers that are available, and which has the characteristic bobleform in the middle and the flat top, which gives a more fruity and less heavy alcohol. In addition, it would reportedly be the boiler with the largest bubble in Scotland.

Basisserien today consists of a the most well-known 12-year, Huddart, which is a NAS finished in casks used for the smoked whiskey. Finally, there is a 15 - and an 18-year. Generally nice and a little rustic whiskies in the louder end, with clear salty notes, fruity, floral and banana notes.

40% | Conquer Spirits | 399 kr.

Stored on bourbonfade. Spicy in the nose with honey, fruit, vanilla and salty notes. Nice complexity and a long finish. 89

46% | Conquer Spirits | 699 kr.

Matured both on bourbon and sherryfade. Lots of orange, spices, results and a little salt in the aftertaste. A long, persistent finish. 92

46% | Conquer Spirits | 1199 kr.

Matured both on bourbon and sherryfade. Full of christmas spices, prunes, raisins, and vanilla. Nice and full-bodied, complex dram with a long finish. 93

46% | Conquer Spirits | 399 kr.

Finished in casks used for the smoked whiskey. Light with vaniljenoter, a little smoke and citrus in the taste. A young whisky, well-made and with a nice, spicy finish. 90

the 42.5% | Conquer Spirits | approx. 4.500 kr.

Stored on the bourbon - and sherryfade. Dark and very full-bodied. Any dryness and fadtannin can be sensed. Fruitcake, leather, sea salt, and vanilla in the taste. Very deep and long in flavor. 96

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Came to the Italian wine festival 18+19 september - read more here.