Honouring our Heroic Clipper Race Crew

We’re delighted to announce the launch of the Old Pulteney Clipper Commemorative Bottle…

After an epic, almost eleven month long voyage around the globe as part of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race, our ‘Maritime Malt’ is paying tribute to the remarkable sailing achievement of the crew with the limited edition release of the Old Pulteney Clipper Commemorative Bottle. 

As the twelve-strong Clipper Race fleet returns home to St Katharine Docks in London this weekend, 12th July 2014, the first bottles of this strikingly designed new whisky will be gifted to the crew as they celebrate with family and friends. 

Crafted under the expert eye of Malcolm Waring, our Distillery Manager here in the rugged northern coastal town of Wick, just 2,700 cases of this new Old Pulteney expression will be available to international markets.

The whisky has been matured in ex American bourbon and ex Spanish sherry casks and is polished gold in appearance, combining the sweetness of dried fruits with crisp green apples on the nose, accompanied by notes of fresh vanilla and white chocolate. The taste is of honey and orange zest with a rounded oaky structure and Old Pulteney’s unmistakable salty coastal note giving way to a smooth and long-lasting finish. 

The thrill of the Clipper Race is perfectly captured on the packaging of the new release, with a splash of nautical navy blue and red depicting the Clipper Race boats in action – emblazoned on a pristine white tube which also features the Clipper Race logo. 

Our Senior Brand Manager, Margaret Mary Clarke, believes the release of this special commemorative bottle is the perfect way to conclude Old Pulteney’s global Clipper Race adventure, explaining: “As a whisky built on its maritime history and connections, it has been an enormous thrill to be part of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Race and to have witnessed the ‘Old Pulteney’ speed from port to port over the past year. 

The response to our boat and our whisky in every country we have stopped in has been truly overwhelming. With this new limited edition release, we pay tribute to the wonderful spirit, bravery and achievement of our skipper Patrick Van der Zijden and the incredible Old Pulteney crew as our Clipper Race journey comes to an end. Not only have they delivered an outstanding sailing performance, with ocean sprint wins and podium places to celebrate, but they have also been great ambassadors for Old Pulteney’s spirit of maritime adventure along the way. We look forward to raising a glass to them and their families this weekend at the Clipper Race homecoming.