Pittyvaich 28y/o Special Release 2018 52.1%ABV 30ml

A rare whisky from a short-lived distillery that was only in production for 18 years. Built in Dufftown by Arthur Bell & Sons in 1975 to help boost production of Bells Blended Whisky which was booming in popularity in the 1970's. In the 1980's there was a whisky crisis caused by overproduction and huge drop in demand for blended whisky which became seen as an 'old mans drink'. During the whisky crisis Guinness went on a buying spree of distilleries buying Arthur Bell and Sons and DCL to become the largest whisky producer in the world and then later merged with Grand Metropolitan to become Diageo - the largest spirits producer in the world at that time. Pittyvaich didn't survive this turbulent period in whisky history. Diageo put aside casks from the 20 distilleries it closed to fulfil blended whisky contracts and also put aside older quality casks as liquid history for later releases. 

Diageo marketing team then created buzz around the scarcity and rarity of casks from dead distilleries in series like the Rare Malts selection and in their annual special releases. Only the best casks were put aside and they were left to mature for longer periods - by the time demand for whisky returned there were exceptional casks 28 years and older from great distilleries such as Brora and Port Ellen that were now some of the best whiskies ever produced. Added to this great casks from average distilleries like Pittyvaich and Convalmore were now 28-32 years old and better than anything the distilleries released when they were still active. Some great distilleries were closed but also some average distilleries also look great only because the last drops are often the sweetest - people put aside the best casks and left them longer than is usually commercially viable. 

Pittyvaich was used to make blends and while it was active was only released as a single malt in the Flora and Fauna series a couple of years before it was closed. 

This Pittyvaich is 28 years old matured in refill American oak hogsheads. Its deliciously fruity - its has a slight oaky astringent finish that kind of suggests that this would have been better bottled a little earlier. Some younger Pittyvaichs have a sour grassy fruity note but that is mellowed in this older bottling so maybe the extra time in the cask has has more positives. There are a 3 or 4 individual casks of legendary Pittyvaichs - Cadenhead Dumpy Bottles and Hunter Laing. However this one and the 25y/o are the best official bottling of Pittyvaich ever released so its a nice historic bottle to try.