Pittyvaich was established in 1975 to support the Bell’s blend, but it was neglected and closed in 1993 already (demolished in 2003). There was only one official release in the Fauna & Flora range, and a few months ago this 20 year-old version was bottled by Diageo as part of the Special Releases 2009.

Pittyvaich 20 yo (57,5%, OB 2009, 6000 btl.)

Nose: fresh, rather light for a 20 year-old, but pleasant. Holding the middle between a malty, mineral and a fruity profile. Pears, biscuits. Some pineapple. Quite creamy. Subtle hints of oak polish and fresh, new leather. Vanilla. A touch of freshly cut grass. Mouth: a rather sharp attack with grassy notes and zesty fruit. Apples and orange skin mostly. Soft hints of vanilla. Then there are a few earthy notes, with toast and a little tobacco. Coffee. Finish: medium length on oranges, with very faint hints of salt. Again waves of cut grass.

A Pittyvaich that seems 10-15 years old rather than 20. Apart from that, it shows a pleasant, unique character which proves that even neglected distilleries can produce beautiful stuff. But at around € 120 the price vs. quality ratio is rather weak.

Score: 82/100