i. Biography
Malcolm Waring’s work sits at the point where distillation practice and site character meet at Pulteney Distillery in Wick, United Kingdom. At Old Pulteney, the maritime note of the house is not an abstract brand claim but part of the context in which the whisky is made, and Waring’s role as Distillery Manager is tied to holding that line with consistency. The value here is continuity: enough time on site for process knowledge to become embedded rather than improvised.
The Climb
A distillery career built from the shop floor outward tends to produce managers who know the plant as a working system, and Malcolm Waring’s path follows that pattern. He began in 1990 at Pulteney (Old Pulteney) in Wick in distillery production roles, then moved through the practical demands of the site into Brewing Manager, Assistant Distillery Manager, and later Distillery Manager at Knockdhu. That progression reflects craft knowledge accumulated by doing the work in sequence, rather than arriving at oversight first. Today, Malcolm is Distillery Manager of Old Pulteney.
Today
At Pulteney Distillery, Waring’s remit is the Wick site associated with Old Pulteney, where distillery identity and place are closely linked. One notable output under his management was the Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive, described as the first-ever distillery-exclusive single malt and made using hand-selected casks. The emphasis is on selection and control: choosing casks to make a specific statement rather than treating release planning as routine stock movement. As Waring puts it, “Old Pulteney is all about the sea.”
Career - Distillery Manager — Old Pulteney, Wick - Shop floor worker / distillery production roles — Pulteney (Old Pulteney), Wick (from 1990) - Brewing Manager — Pulteney (Old Pulteney), Wick - Assistant Distillery Manager — Pulteney (Old Pulteney), Wick - Distillery Manager — Knockdhu
Signature
Malcolm's signature wines include Old Pulteney 12 year old, Old Pulteney Port Bottling, Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive, and 200th Anniversary Distillery Exclusive. Together, these names map a range that stays close to the distillery’s core expression while also making room for releases tied to specific occasions and cask selection.
In Their Words “Wick is at the heart of our whisky and we are also very much looking forward to welcoming our neighbours and friends from across the Wick community to our celebrations on the 20th June.” “Old Pulteney is all about the sea.”
Recognition
The public framing of the brand places Wick at the center of the whisky’s identity, and Waring states that directly: “Wick is at the heart of our whisky and we are also very much looking forward to welcoming our neighbours and friends from across the Wick community to our celebrations on the 20th June.” In trade terms, the line links distillery character to community context, treating place as part of the whisky’s working identity rather than as decoration.
FAQ What is Malcolm Waring's current role? As of 2026, Malcolm Waring is Distillery Manager.
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