Founded in 1826 in the remote northern town of Wick, Old Pulteney was completely inaccessible by road. It could only be reached by sea, heavily linking the distillery to the bustling herring fishing industry. For decades, it served as the warming dram for sailors returning from the harsh North Sea.

Legend has it that when their pot still was delivered, the 'swan neck' was too tall for the building, so the manager simply cut it off. This unique flat-topped still, combined with maturation in warehouses heavily battered by sea spray, creates an incredibly distinct malt: sweet honey intertwined with a striking, bracing burst of sea salt.