Old Pulteney Bow Wave
International Beverage has today (Wednesday 12th July) unveiled its contribution to the whisky industry’s biggest charity auction, Old Pulteney Bow Wave. This is the oldest Old Pulteney released to date, donated in support of the Youth Action Fund.
Old Pulteney Bow Wave – 45 Year Old Single Malt
The company’s flagship single malt has unveiled Old Pulteney Bow Wave: a 45 Year Old Single Malt and the oldest expression from the Highland distillery to date – presented in an exquisitely hand-crafted sculpture which represents the movement of a ship through crashing waves.
Distillers’ One of One Auction x Youth Action Fund
This never-to-be-repeated masterpiece, Old Pulteney Bow Wave, has been crafted for the biennial Distillers’ One of One Auction, which takes place on 5th October 2023 at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, principally in support of the Youth Action Fund: a charity which is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland.
Bow wave whisky
Offering an unprecedented opportunity to own a piece of Old Pulteney’s history, this exceptionally rare whisky was matured for more than four decades within hand-selected American oak casks, completing its voyage with a further five years maturation inside a single first-fill Spanish oak butt. As a result, Old Pulteney Bow Wave is magnificent in its complexity. Deep golden in colour, it features subtle whispers of sea spray entwined with the sweetness of honey, with delicate notes of aged oak and maritime air to tantalise the palate.
Hand-blow glass on a bed of Caithness slate
The Old Pulteney Bow Wave is encased within an equally remarkable bottle. Presented upon a bed of Caithness slate, the bottle is crafted from hand-blown glass with complex Inciso cuts, mirroring the essence of crashing waves. The deep blue hue of the bottle encapsulates the sea’s endless depths, while glimpses of the golden liquid shine through like reflections of a morning sunrise.
Surrounding the glass, beautifully crafted Scottish silverware fashioned by local Silversmith, Lucy Woodley encircles the finished vessel in all its splendour.
Old Pulteney Bow Wave – a hidden cork
The hidden cork, accessed only by a bespoke anchor key created by Glasstorm, beckons the senses, evoking the timeless rhythm of the sea.
The Distillers One of One Auction is run by the Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s. Ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies go under the hammer in front of a global audience, and following the inaugural event in 2021, nearly 500 disadvantaged young people from across Scotland have benefited from the £2.4 million raised. More than half of these young people have already gone on to secure employment, apprenticeships, further education, training, or work as volunteers.
International Beverage Global Marketing Director Cara Chambers, commenting on Old Pulteney Bow Wave, said:
‘This is an exciting day for everyone at International Beverage as we unveil Old Pulteney Bow Wave, which has been many months in the making. Our teams are always busy with charity initiatives, from local fundraisers to bigger partnerships that make a difference in our communities and support the causes that matter most to our people. Our contribution to supporting the Youth Action Fund at this year’s Distillers One of One Charity continues this company-wide commitment. Bow Wave is such a unique and special bottling, the likes of which no-one in our business has seen before. It’s a slice of Pulteney history, bringing together outstanding craftsmanship and a whisky that is a true treasure. We’re proud to be sending it off on its journey to Hopetoun House, and to play our part in raising vital funds and creating opportunities for hundreds of young people in Scotland.’
Renowned whisky expert and award-winning writer, Dave Broom praised Bow Wave’s remarkable taste:
‘Glowing amber. Refined, clearly mature, yet still fresh. There’s hints of dried pineapple, a slight wax polish, then scented sandalwood and myrrh with a hint of austerity behind. In time, there’s oxidised nutty notes, then leather oils which stray towards varnish. Complex and fascinating.
The palate is quite a contrast. It starts with a silky, almost slippery, highly-concentrated sweetness, then an incredible burst of bright fruits like captured sunlight. The tongue-clinging quality shifts in the middle of the tongue as some of the famed minerality comes in, working in tandem with touches of drier wood. Then it seems to exhale and the softness returns.
Now the full complexity is revealed: supple tannins, mature oxidised fruits, rosehip, and stewed rhubarb. There’s a tiny bitter touch on the end before the dried pineapple returns, this time beside preserved lemon. It’s not finished though, as after you’ve swallowed an almost pillowy softness returns. Remarkable.’
To register interest in this auction, visit the Distillers’ One of One website.
https://www.distillersoneofone.com
About International Beverage
International Beverage is one of the drinks industry’s most dynamic global businesses. Established in 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thaibev, the company operates as its international business arm, specialising in the development of premium local spirits for the global market. Its success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets within a worldwide business network. Based in Hong Kong with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, the USA and UK, the company is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands in over 85 markets. These brands are built on character, craftsmanship and quality, led by a range of award-winning Scotch whiskies and an array of vibrant spirits. These include:
- Single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn
- Blended Scotch Hankey Bannister
- Caorunn, No.1 Premium London Dry Gin in the Scottish Off Trade*
- Mekhong, ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
- Phraya, a premium rum handcrafted in Thailand
*Neilson IQ – Volume and Value latest 52 weeks to 28/08/2022.
About the Distillers’ Charity
The Distillers’ Charity was founded in 1955 as the philanthropic arm of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, a City of London Livery company. In addition to the Youth Action Fund, its charitable work has focused on two other important areas: Vocational Training and Education to develop the next generation of talent in the spirits trade and City and Livery Giving which also works towards the charity’s mission of transforming the lives of young people.
About the Distillers One of One Auction
The inaugural Distillers One of One Auction was held in December 2021, organised by The Worshipful Company of Distillers.
The vision for the Distillers One of One Auction Series, developed in partnership with leading auction house Sotheby’s, was to create the pre-eminent charitable auction for Scotch Whisky with two clear aims: to make a strong social impact in Scotland transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people, and to showcase excellence in craftsmanship and the rarity value of Scotch Whisky to a global audience.
A biennial series, the next One of One Auction will be held in October 2023 at Hopetoun House on the outskirts of Edinburgh and is expected to attract whisky buyers and luxury goods collectors from around the world
Old Pulteney Bow Wave – references
Press release care of Burt Greener Communications
www.interbevgroup.com