Those with rich taste can bid on unique Wick whisky expected to auction for £40K
As Old Pulteney gets ready to celebrate its 200th anniversary, the Wick-based whisky has unveiled an exceptionally rare 47-year-old single malt that is expected to reach £40,000 at auction.
Polaris is described as a “never-to-be-repeated showpiece” and the rarest whisky ever released by the Pulteney Distillery as it reaches its bicentennial year in 2026.
It will be the distillery’s rarest release to date and will be auctioned at the biennial Distillers One of One Charity Auction in October 2025, with proceeds benefiting The Distillers’ Charity, particularly its Youth Action Fund in Scotland. The team marketing the event believes the whisky could reach the dizzy height of around £40,000 at the event.
Named after the North Star, Polaris symbolises a new direction for the distillery, paying homage to Old Pulteney's windswept home in Wick and the rugged Caithness coastline. The showpiece's design, a collaboration with local artisans, reflects this inspiration. The whisky is presented in a hand-blown, blue glass bottle by Tain-based Glasstorm, featuring inciso cuts that evoke the North Sea's waters. This is encased in a dramatic Caithness Slate structure from Norse Stone, representing the enduring cliffs.
Further enhancing the piece is the integration of copper and silver by local jeweller Lucy Woodley. A secret copper disc, reclaimed from an Old Pulteney still, is revealed at the sculpture's base, offering a tangible piece of the distillery's heritage. Glasstorm artists Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns explained their inspiration came from the ‘Thirle Door Arch’ at the Stacks of Duncansby, which frames a perfect view of the North Sea, directly influencing the Polaris design.
The whisky, Old Pulteney's oldest release, was distilled and aged in Wick, where the sea-salty air imbued it with authentic maritime character. It matured for four decades in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by seven years of refinement in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt, contributing to its complex elegance.
With a mahogany hue and 43.6% ABV, Polaris boasts complex aromas of sea spray. On the palate, it offers delicate vanilla and sweet cinnamon pastry notes intertwined with Scottish tablet and dark chocolate, concluding with a lingering sweet finish.
Renowned whisky expert Dave Broom praises its "captivating nose of luxurious stone fruits, citrus zest, and a complex evolution toward oxidative notes", describing a "thick and waxy" palate mingling "soft, late-harvest fruit with cedar-spiced tannins and a hint of salinity”.
Award-winning whisky writer Jonny McCormick further compliments its "bold coastal nose of sea spray, molasses cake, nutmeg, and deep oak", with a "silky and vibrant" palate of "Scottish tablet, citrus peel, and a rolling wave of grilled pineapple, cherry cake, and toasted spice", leading to an "indulgent and lingering" finish of dark chocolate, coffee, and soft oak.

Malcolm Waring, Pulteney Distillery manager, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Old Pulteney Polaris – the rarest whisky ever released from our distillery. This truly one-of-a-kind creation marks a momentous milestone for Old Pulteney.
“Matured for an extraordinary 47 years, Polaris is a stunning reflection of Old Pulteney’s authentic maritime character – shaped over decades by breathing in the salt-laden air, time, and tradition. This single malt was carefully selected not just on age alone, but for the remarkable depth and complexity of the whisky itself. Polaris perfectly captures the very essence of our Maritime Malt.
“This never-to-be-repeated release also features copper from one of Pulteney’s stills, connecting this one-off bottle not only to the whisky housed within, but to the very fabric of our distillery. It’s a rare opportunity to own a piece of our heritage.
“As we prepare to celebrate our distillery’s 200th anniversary in 2026, Polaris stands as both a tribute to Old Pulteney’s remarkable legacy and a symbol of the exciting new chapter ahead. It reflects where we have come from, and hints at what is yet to come.”
The Distillers One of One Charity Auction is on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. It will be the sole opportunity to acquire this exceptional 1.5L showpiece, which includes a 100ml tasting sample.
To register interest in this auction, visit The Distillers One of One website at: www.distillersoneofone.com/
Polaris is the first official LOT to be revealed for charity auction.
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