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

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Speyside:

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

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

	Pittyvaich
	whisky
O.B.	Fauna & Flora, 12 years	16 3/5

See Help 0 - 40 € 40 - 80 € 80 - 120 € 120 - 160 € 160 - 200 € 200 - 240 € 240 - 280 € > 280 €

Pittyvaich 12 years Fauna&Flora
Age	12 years
Alcohol	43°
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

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.

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

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 .

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.

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...)

Speyside

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.

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

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Last update: Sunday, 17-Feb-2008 21:02:40 CET
Mon 12 05 2008, 11:00 - 62 visiteurs au cours de la dernière heure et 8 visiteurs sur le site en ce moment.
Copyright:Jean-Marie Putz (2003-2007)

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