Wick's Old Pulteney distillery reacts to water scarcity fears – production to pause for 8 weeks this summer
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Wick's Old Pulteney distillery is taking the "proactive decision" to pause production for eight weeks in the summer due to possible water shortages.
It comes after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issued an ‘alert’ level warning for the first time in 2023 and asked businesses to "give thought to measures to reduce the volume used or to consider an alternative source".
In reference to Old Pulteney, Sean Priestley – group distillery manager at International Beverage which owns the business – said: "Following the water scarcity issues we have experienced at Pulteney Distillery in recent years, we have taken the proactive decision to pause production for eight weeks over the summer period this year, rather than the usual four-week shut down.
"We take our commitment to sustainability and the environment very seriously, and this is the right thing to do to protect and preserve our local water supply, Loch Hempriggs. We have planned for this scenario to minimise the impact it will have on the distillery's overall output, plus our teams will be undertaking training and a range of other tasks while production is paused. We will continue to work closely with SEPA and the surrounding community to monitor and manage water use at the distillery over the long term."
There were water scarcity alerts in Wick and Thurso last year, and a seven-week spell of significant scarcity in Caithness in 2021 when Pulteney Distillery halted production of its whisky due to the low water levels in Loch Hempriggs.
Earlier this month, Mr Priestley rose to the challenges of water scarcity and said that the company would not shy away from the issue and would "do the right thing for the environment, no matter how challenging this might be for our business".
He added: “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.”
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As well as implementing current water scarcity plans, the distillery is also focusing on innovation to find more sustainable ways of distilling whisky. The team has been conducting a number of high gravity mashing trials to establish the best possible production process, minimising water usage while still maintaining the character of the Old Pulteney spirit.
Wick has been the home of Old Pulteney single malt whisky since 1826. 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. The company says that this water adds "much to the character and quality of Old Pulteney" and plays "no small part in the many global accolades it has won over the years".
