Today late Pittyvaich


October 23, 2023

WF's Little Duos, today late Pittyvaich

Pittyvaich, built in 1974 by Bell's, remained active for only about twenty years before closing down in 1993. To be honest, we have only tasted around twenty-five Pittyvaich expressions so far, roughly one per year (ridiculous!), making it challenging for us to establish a precise profile. In any case, we are pleased to discover two new ones today... What were the odds?

Part of Pittyvaich (Malt Madness)

Pittyvaich 33 yo 1990/2023 (44.2%, Hunter Laing, Old & Rare, cask #HL20631)

Forgot to say, the distillery got demolished in 2002. Not too sure where the equipment went to, especially the stills that must have been almost as new. Any clues? Colour: full gold. Nose: subtle putties and various fresh paints, plus some old leather and a little malt extract. Then marzipan, a little gun oil, grape pip oil, linseed oil… indeed it is oily, and even waxy. Old beeswax, furniture polish, overripe apples, and an old Chardonnay from Burgundy. Your pick, be my guest. What's your vintage? It's also rather sulphury, but we're talking distillate-sulphur, as in, say Mortlach, nothing to do with the cask. Mouth: very intriguing, as it's simply mirroring the nose, which is really unusual with these kinds of profiles. A little olive oil, propolis, various waxes and oils, plus very ripe apples and plums, with extra-skins. Well, I know what I'm trying to say. The whole's delicately austere, getting then leafier, with a little chlorophyl and green tea. Finish: not too long, with fresh walnuts and more vegetal oils. Green tea in the aftertaste, and some sweeter nougat as the signature. Comments: no extravagance and not much fruitiness in this subtle old Pittyvaich that's a little philosophical and that commands respect. An ascetic.
SGP:462 - 88 points.

Pittyvaich 30 yo 1992/2022 (55.5%, OB, Prima & Ultima 2023, Fourth release, Experimental Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso-seasoned European Oak, 609 bottles)

One of the youngest recent Pittyvaichs, obviously. Colour: light gold. Nose: this oily fatness once more, with a PX and an oloroso that behaved here. In truth styles are similar, this one being just a tad bigger (that's the higher strength) and more on pastry, cakes and just malt. Other than that, there's beeswax, a little olive oil indeed, pistachio oil, and really no big sherry. With water: green teas, distillate sulphur, paraffin, some yeastiness, all that being awesome and a shining example of a malt that was meant to be a greatly textured filler for better blends. Well, I suppose. Mouth (neat): awesomely fruity this time, full of apples of many kinds. Hints of fat gueuze and, really, apples. Love apples. With water: more nuttiness, from the sherry I would suppose. Malt, ale, small apples, dry cider (brut), grape pip oil… Here, the texture is almost as important as the aromatic profile. Finish: not that long but rather fat, with more vegetal oils, apple peel, and the most discreet touch of mint. Fresh walnuts of the aftertaste, most certainly from the sherry. Comments: in fact, those two Pittyvaich were very similar, which is not very surprising.
SGP:462 - 88 points.

Not sure when we'll be able to do another proper Pittyvaich session with new bottlings. Perhaps never…

Check the index of all Pittyvaich we've tasted so far