Whisky production under way again at Pulteney Distillery as dry spell comes to an end

Whisky-making is up and running again in Wick after a break of more than a month while the town experienced unusually dry weather.

Low water levels led to the makers of Old Pulteney putting a temporary stop to production in August. It was understood to have been the first time this had happened since the summer of 1976.

Following recent spells of heavy rain, however, production restarted on Monday night.

Inver House Distillers, the company that owns the distillery, has been liaising with the environmental regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

SEPA had classed the Wick area as being at “significant” water scarcity for seven weeks in a row following the town's driest summer for 66 years. The water scarcity level in Wick, along with the rest of Caithness, is now “moderate”.

A spokesperson for Inver House Distillers said: "We're pleased to confirm that production at Pulteney Distillery resumed on the evening of Monday, September 27, following spells of heavy rain and a positive update from SEPA about water levels in the Wick area."

Inver House Distillers had previously given an assurance that the impact on future stocks of Old Pulteney would be negligible, "given the long-term nature of the whisky industry, and also our ability to make up lost production days once we are in a position to do so".

The Pulteney lade draws water from nearby Loch Hempriggs, where levels were "extremely low" when the decision was taken to pause production.

The company said the distillery team had been busy on other essential tasks such as maintenance and warehousing

Wick has been the home of Old Pulteney since 1826. Whisky-making ceased in 1930 during the town's prohibition era and the distillery was mothballed for more than 20 years before production restarted.

Local weather watcher Keith Banks reported that 36.4mm (1.43 inches) of rain fell in the Wick area in a 24-hour period from Sunday evening.

"A rejuvenated polar front jet stream was responsible for the heavy rainfall deposited by a very active Atlantic cold front that moved slowly across the region," he said.

"The rainfall total in Wick to date is currently 87.6mm (3.45 inches). That works out at 118.9 per cent of the long-term average amount for September."

Wick hotelier Murray Lamont was among those welcoming the return of whisky-making in the town.

Mr Lamont, who runs Mackays Hotel with his wife Ellie, said: "We are absolutely delighted to hear that Pulteney Distillery is in production again – it is a major tourist attraction for Wick.

"It’s also good to hear we can rest easy about future stocks for our whisky bar. Remember, today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky."

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