Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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Pittyvaich

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Pittyvaich Distillery
Dufftown
ABB55 4BR
Banffshire
+44 1340 820 561
Owner: United Distillers & Vintners (Diageo)
Creation date 1975

Recently created (the distillery dates back to 1975), Pittyvaich has had a very short life. Its owner decided to close the distillery as soon as 1993, and there is little hope it well open ever again.
The distillery has been created by Bells.
Pittivaich was producing whisky thanks to a high-tech infrastructure, and its production was exclusively used in the blends of the U.D.V. group.
Single malt versions are available in the Fauna & Flora collection, and at independent bottlers.
The distillery which was situated in Dufftown is currently completely dismantled and does not exist anymore.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

 Pittyvaich: official bottlings
 

Pittyvaich

Fauna & Flora, 12 years
Collection
 Fauna & Flora
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Official
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 78/100
 
The colour is red-amber. The perfumed nose reveals sherry and pear skin hints.
The taste is very marked by sherry and reveals malt and vanilla impressions. It is sweet, from pear to spicy dryness.
The finish is long and perfumed, rich and spicy.
Slight smoke hints on a sherry background, the whole being slightly acid are the characids of both the nose and the palate. Acidity (citrus fruits) and spices characterize the taste, and a long finish make the image complete. A pleasant bottle, even if not really essential, except for those who are nostalgic about closed distilleries. 
70/100
Very strange. The conclusions of the second tasting were completely different. A great sweetness, characterized by malt and vanilla hints characterize the nose and palate. The finish remains pleasant, even if it seemed much shorter.
This contradictory note is a good example of the differences which can occur on tasting the same
79/100
The smell of sherry on a smoky background characterizes the nose. Hints off citrus fruits, which become soon smoother and sweeter, ending on vanilla flavours mark the palate. A great complexity. The rather long finish recalls vanilla and spices .
79/100
The nose seems to be an interesting mix of sherry with gingerbread. Only spices after a while, which gives the nose a pungent character. A veil of smoke on the background. In the palate, first a strange taste, where sherry seems to dominate some bitter hints, with some chocolate hints. This whisky seems to be stronger than announced on the label... The nose was quite better than the mouth is. The dry finish is bitter too.
74/100
A great smoothness at the first nosing, quite marked by sherry. Notes of fresh hay and fine woody hints appear within a well balanced whole.
In the palate, balance is the essential characteristic too. The notes of the nose are just confirmed. Sherry, light woody hints, malted notes. Nice complexity, no aggressiveness. A very nice whisky.
The finish perfectly prolongs the nose and the mouth. Malt sweetness in association of that of sherry, woody touches. Very long, rich and without any hinder due to alcohol.
This notes are quite different of earlier ones. This means there is an evolution.. (or of the whisky in its bottle -aeration- or of my own papilla's...)
84/100
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Pittyvaich

20
Age
 20 years
Alcohol percentage
 57,5 %
Bottler
 Official
Bottle
 1627 of 6000 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 86/100
Pittivaich 20

Colour: Straw
A wonderfully fruity nose, very complex and sophisticated. Hints of solvent, the bitterness of the almond, the acid drops, ripe fruit, beer yeast blend harmoniously for the pleasure of the nose.
The mouth is less engaging than the nose, while remaining pleasantly complex. Acid notes take over at the beginning, which unbalanced a bit the whole. The fruit is significantly less present than at the nose, but the fact remains that a variety of flavors mingle. Acidity and bitterness, especially
The finish is long and fresh. The acid notes dominate again, and just like in the mouth, the bitterness is mingled with it.
86/100
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Pittyvaich: independent bottlers

Pittyvaich

1993
Collection
 Connoisseurs Choice
Age
 14 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 74/100
Pittyvaich 1993
The nose is undoubtedly fruity and somehow affected by (fortunately discrete) yeast notes. Nice freshness however. Some green apple hints.
The mouth is sweeter and less fresh than the nose was. Ripe yellow fruits dominate now. No complexity
The finish is rather short and sweet honeyish notes dominate.
It does not seem that there is any coherence in this bottle between nose and finish.
74/100
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Pittyvaich: not in collection

Pittyvaich

1976, Hogshead
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 49,8 %
Bottler
 Signatory
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
links & average quote
 82/100
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Speyside

Speyside Map

The Speyside area is situated at the North of the Cairngorm mountain and goes to the Moray firth. It is delimited by two rivers: the Findhorn at the West side and the Deveron on the East side.
The area is named after the river Spey. Most of the distilleries take their water in one of its affluents; the Fiddich, the Livet or the Avon.
About sixty distilleries from Speyside are described on this site.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information
about the Speyside area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please
click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow