Old Pulteney partners with Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Water, whisky and Pulteney Distillery

Wick has been the home of Old Pulteney single malt whisky since 1826. One of Scotland’s most northerly mainland distilleries, its sole production water supply is Loch Hempriggs just outside the town, where water is drawn into a lade and channelled to the distillery year-round – adding much to the character and quality of Old Pulteney and playing no small part in the many global accolades it has won over the years.

The whisky industry depends on water. And, like many of their peers, the Old Pulteney team has become more and more conscious of how they manage and use water over the years, particularly so as producers in such a remote and wild part of northern Scotland. As Group Distilleries Manager Sean Priestley commented:

‘We’re acutely aware of the changing climate and the real risk of water scarcity, particularly in an area like Caithness where water is constrained. We made a decision not to shy away from this and to do the right thing for the environment, no matter how challenging this might be for our business.’

A proactive water management policy

In practice, this means a two-pronged approach: clear, practical and carefully monitored policies to manage daily water use; and investment in innovation to make positive changes for the future.

For the former, water levels and use are meticulously monitored and recorded each day and if the supply is compromised, production is stopped to allow it to recover. Preparation and careful planning for such events up front ensures that the impact on production and distillery output is always maintained.

For the latter, there’s a focus on innovation and finding more sustainable ways of distilling without compromising Pulteney’s treasured traditional techniques. The team is conducting a number of high gravity mashing trials to establish the best possible production process to minimise water usage while maintaining the character of the Old Pulteney spirit. After an initial trial, a second trial is now panned using a variation of the existing yeast strain. High gravity mashing has proven successful at other International Beverage sites and will have a positive impact on water usage at Pulteney once implemented. As Sean continues:

‘Loch Hempriggs is a vital natural resource, not one that we can simply replace or use technology to fix. It needs careful management, time and of course plenty of rain to sustain it. Responsibility for its stewardship falls to us, not just to achieve SWA water targets, but to do the right thing for the environment and to secure our supply’.

The water shortage of summer 2021

The recent hot, dry summers have tested Scotland’s water supplies. In the summer of 2021, the Pulteney team didn’t wait for SEPA to confirm an impending water shortage – they could already see that water levels were perilously low in the lade and at Loch Hempriggs. That’s when the planning kicked in:

1. Form a working group to monitor and review the situation
2. Voluntarily stop production once water levels reached a critically low level
3. Work closely with SEPA and factor in their advice
4. Move personnel to other tasks like maintenance and warehousing, so lost production days can be made up efficiently when supplies increase
5. Communicate regularly and transparently with the community and local media to keep them updated

Whisky and water management: the future

Managing a scarce resource is never easy; tough calls have to be made. The distillery is part of a wider network in the area and every eventuality has to be considered – for example the impact of missed production days may have on the local Ignis District Heating Scheme with which Pulteney partners. But Pulteney team’s approach aims to safeguard the symbiotic relationship between water and whisky for the future, guided by four principles:

• Think of the bigger picture and accept the complexities
• Innovate to find new ways of distilling for the future
• Collaborate and share knowledge, learning from others
• Do the right thing, always