A Monumental Milestone in the Distillery’s History
With rarity at its core, this never-to-be-repeated whisky was nurtured for forty-five years at Pulteney Distillery on the most northerly shores of Scotland, each drop breathing in the sea air as it slowly evolved its distinctive character. Spending four decades in hand-selected American oak casks before resting for a further five years of maturation in a single first fill Spanish oak butt Old Pulteney “Bow Wave” is a testament to the pride, patience, and craftsmanship of this award-winning distillery. The magnificent liquid remains true to Old Pulteney’s house style yet beneath its unmistakable coastal character, subtle wisps of sea spray and notes of sweet honey, Bow Wave boasts an unquestionably complex flavour profile delivering an exquisitely balanced rich whisky with a lavish golden hue.
The Making of Old Pulteney Bow Wave
The Distillers One of One Auction
The Worshipful Company of Distillers and the Distillers’ Charity announced the return of the Distillers One of One auction for its second edition, held on Thursday 5th October 2023. Hosted at the resplendent Hopetoun House, widely considered to be one of Scotland’s finest stately homes, the event was an unmissable showcase of rare and remarkable Scotch Whisky.
In partnership with Sotheby’s, the Distillers One of One auction brought together an unparalleled collection of one‑off, never‑to‑be‑repeated Scotch whiskies from distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland, with each Lot showcasing the excellence and individuality of craftsmanship from Scotland’s most stellar distilleries.
The Jewel in Old Pulteney’s collection
"Taking inspiration from a beautifully shaped pebble that my wife and I found while walking along a beach on the Caithness Coast, we settled on the Cabachon shape that you now see at the heart of the sculpture. The changing colours of the vessel, from a deep blue to clear light, reflect the ever-changing nature of the sea. At its heart, however, is the whisky itself. To reveal the liquid gold inside we used a technique of inciso cuts. This decorative cut was technique I learned during my time on the island of Murano in Italy at the hands of masters of their craft. Not only does it give a glimpse of what is inside this vessel, but the golden light that comes through the glass recalls the glinting light of a sunset as it reflects off the ripples in the Sea."
"Glowing amber. Refined, clearly mature, yet still fresh. There’s hints of dried pineapple, a slight wax polish, then scented sandalwood and myrhh. In time, there’s oxidised nutty notes, then leather oils which stray towards varnish. Complex and fascinating.The plate is quite a contrast. It starts with a silky, almost slippery, highly-concentrated sweetness, then an incredible burst of bright fruits like captured sunlight. The tongue-clinging quality shifts in the middle of the tongue as some of the famed minerality comes in, working in tandem with touches of drier wood. Then it seems to exhale and the softness returns. Now the full complexity is revealed, supple tannins, mature oxidised fruits, rosehip, and stewed rhubarb. There’s a tiny (balancing) bitter touch on the end before the dried pineapple returns, this time beside preserved lemon (salt and citrus). It’s not finished though, as after you’ve swallowed an almost pillowy softness returns."
