This elusive 1989 Pittyvaich from the last remaining stocks is the first ever to be finished in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. This finely crafted finishing has brought an exotic, rich vanilla sweetness to the light, creamy, fruity aromas and flavours of a less well known Speyside gem, until now familiar only to a knowledgeable few.
A ‘ghost’ distillery that worked for only 18 years before falling victim to industry consolidation in 1993, the buildings of Pittyvaich have long since vanished. Its dwindling stock is as rarely sighted today as the shy capercaillie, a bird occasionally spotted in Scottish pine forests. Aromas of sweet oak, delicate ripe fruitiness and dried flowers leap from the glass. The texture is soft and silky, the sweet taste rich in notes of vanilla that perfectly match the classic green, creamy and fruity distillery character. It becomes drying in the development, while the smooth, warming finish closes with a final sweet flourish.
A very rare long-aged release of only 7,056 bottles from a closed distillery.
Serving Suggestion: An outstanding example of Pittyvaich, proving that the make deserves to be better known, richly rewarding on both nose and palate and very easy to drink straight.
APPEARANCE
Bright, clear gold. Good beading and thick, slow-running legs.
BODY
Medium
NOSE
Mellow in feel and slightly drying, with no prickle, leaving an unctuous fruity-oily first impression. The rich top notes suggest a salad of ripe tropical fruits; pear, papaya, pineapple and banana, sitting on a green base of fragrant oil or tropical forest foliage. Unusually, a drop of water increases all of these aromas.
PALATE
At natural strength lightly oily and very smooth in texture, mouth-filling and lightly mouth-drying. The taste is rich and creamy vanilla-sweet overall, with some balancing fruity acidity, drying lightly in the finish. Easy to enjoy straight at this strength. Water, not too much, makes it smoother and sweeter still.
FINISH
Quite short, sweet and smooth, and lightly drying, with a lingering spicy warmth. With water, smooth and sweet still, and just gently spicy at the end.
Available to Buy at
Master of Malt
Whisky Resource Note
Pittyvaich is a long closed distillery, however Diageo have been releasing limited stock over recent years.
