Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead saw a little bit of history being made during a recent visit to Wick’s Pulteney Distillery.
A 40 year old single malt has been launched by the distillery – the oldest whisky the company has ever released. It is also the first time that production, maturation, bottling and packaging has been carried out by the distillery using their own workforce.
Only 493 bottles of this prestigious Malt are being made available to the world from the distillery which is also home to the 2012 World Whisky of the Year, a 21 year old single malt.
Mr Lochhead said:
“Pulteney Distillery is renowned for producing some of the finest whiskies in the world – including their award winning 21 year old. This new addition to their range is a testament to the skills of the people who produced and laid the spirit down 40 years ago, carefully looked after by the next generation who have been responsible for the bottling and packaging.
“In bringing this special edition to the market, the distillery have been able to utilise the craftsmanship of the people of the highlands, who have produced the stoppers made from Caithness stone. I imagine avid whisky collectors will be flocking to get their hands on this rare offering from Pulteney Distillery.”
Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring said:
“The local skills and craftsmanship available in the Highlands have been brought to the fore and this has been a labour of love by the staff here at Pulteney, who are proud to see the results of their hard work in this special 40 year old release. There is no doubt that this builds on our well gained reputation for producing some of the finest whiskies ever distilled.”
Whisky industry facts and figures:
- Exports generated £4.23 billion for the UK balance of trade, a record high
- Exports earned £134 every second
- 40 bottles were shipped overseas each second
- 140 million cases were exported worldwide
- Laid end to end they would stretch more than 30,000kms – or about six times the distance between Edinburgh and New York
- 10,300 people are employed in the Scotch Whisky industry – many in economically deprived areas
- 35,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry
- About £1 billion is contributed to the Exchequer in taxes
- Some 20 million casks lie maturing in warehouses in Scotland
- To be Scotch Whisky, the spirit must mature in oak casks in Scotland for at
least three years - 108 distilleries are licensed to produce Scotch Whisky