Unveiling Old Pulteney Polaris for 2025 Distillers One of One Auction

Masterpiece of Caithness craftsmanship features 47-year-old whisky, Old Pulteney’s oldest ever release  

International Beverage has today, Monday the 7th July, unveiled Old Pulteney Polaris, its most extraordinary bottling of Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky to date, created exclusively for the 2025 Distillers One of One charity auction.  

This one-of-a-kind masterpiece of artisanal skill and artistry features a rare 47-year-old expression of the Maritime Malt, which is the Wick Distillery’s oldest ever release. 

It is encased in a stunning sculpture of Caithness slate and silver, which are both naturally found in the Distillery’s windswept coastal home in the far north of Scotland, with an additional enhancement of a secret copper disc at the base of the structure which has been carefully reclaimed from Pulteney Distillery’s stills.  

 Polaris takes its name from the North Star, symbolising a bold, bright future for Old Pulteney as International Beverage plans a global celebration of the Distillery’s milestone 200th anniversary in 2026 – and the beginning of an exciting programme of new releases.  

For guests at this year’s Distillers One of One charity auction, Polaris offers the chance to own a unique and never-to-be-repeated piece of Old Pulteney’s history when they gather for the prestigious biennial auction, which takes place at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh on 10th October.  

 Polaris follows on from Old Pulteney’s previous contribution to the 2023 auction – Bow Wave - which raised nearly £70,000 for the event’s main beneficiary: the Youth Action Fund, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland. 

 

The Whisky 

Distilled and aged at Old Pulteney’s windswept home in Wick on the far north Scottish coast, this whisky captures an authentic maritime character that is unparalleled. Old Pulteney Polaris has been carefully matured for four decades in American oak casks with a final seven years spent resting in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt.  

 Selected for its elegantly complex and perfectly balanced character, this exceptional whisky boasts complex aromas of sea spray that the Maritime Malt is renowned for. On the palate, delicate vanilla and sweet cinnamon pastry come to the fore with a smooth, fine-textured taste featuring Scottish tablet and dark chocolate, ending with a finish of clotted cream. Bottled in 1.5 litre with an ABV of 43.6%, the Lot will include a 100ml tasting sample. 

 

The Bottle 

Honouring the industrial craftsmanship behind each drop of Old Pulteney, the Polaris bottle has been expertly designed and crafted in partnership with local artisans including Tain-based glass merchant Glasstorm to symbolize and celebrate the whisky’s coastal Scottish home. A deep blue glass bottle, represents the crashing waves of the Caithness coast, with intricate inciso cuts creating a rippled effect around the glassware. Caithness slate encases the bottle, symbolising the enduring cliffs found on this part of Scotland’s northerly coastline, and the bottle’s smooth front allows the luxurious mahogany hues of the whisky to shine through. Threads of Caithness silver run along the bottom of the dramatic slate structure to mimic the motion of waves and are beautifully intertwined with cords of copper. 

 

Renowned whisky expert, Dave Broom, praises its remarkable taste: ‘This deep amber whisky opens with a captivating nose of luxurious stone fruits, citrus zest, and a complex evolution toward oxidative notes like medlar and cob nut, lifted by the sensation of a cool seashore breeze. The palate is thick and waxy, mingling soft, late-harvest fruit with cedar-spiced tannins and a hint of salinity, evoking a windswept clifftop. A splash of water reveals greater mineral depth and incense-like spice, while the finish sees the return of fruit after the saltiness fades – mature and balanced.’ 

 

Award-winning whisky writer, Jonny McCormick, further compliments the whisky’s incredible flavour profile: ‘Old Pulteney Polaris glows rich amber with burnished gold highlights. The first wave of aromas opens with a bold coastal nose of sea spray, molasses cake, nutmeg, and deep oak, before revealing layers of vanilla, espresso foam, and hints of baked apple and peppermint. On the palate, it’s silky and vibrant, with Scottish tablet, citrus peel, and a rolling wave of grilled pineapple, cherry cake, and toasted spice, all carried by a mineral backbone. The finish is indulgent and lingering, merging dark chocolate and coffee with soft oak, clotted cream, and a final lift of white chocolate and nutmeg.’ 

 

Fiona Kennie, Marketing Director at International Beverage, said: ‘We are exceptionally proud to be sharing Old Pulteney Polaris with the word today, a project that has been a real labour of love for our team and the skilled designers and local makers in Caithness who have turned our vision into such a magnificent reality. Charity and making a difference in our community is at the heart of our business, so we are very excited to follow the progress of Polaris at this year’s Distillers One of One auction, where we hope our contribution will raise as much money as possible for such an important cause. And for whisky lovers, this is an absolute treasure and a fitting release to mark the countdown to Pulteney Distillery’s 200th milestone next year, when we will have more exciting new releases with rarity, craftsmanship and Old Pulteney’s authentic maritime character to share.’ 

 To register interest in this auction, visit the Distillers’ One of One website.