Pittyvaich 29YO 2019 Special Release

Pittyvach was a utilitarian-looking distillery which was built for purely commercial purposes and was Arthur Bell & Sons’ response to the sudden leap in the brand’s fortunes in the 1970s when it became Britain’s top-selling blend and anything seemed possible.

The firm already ran the Dufftown distillery and so in 1975 erected a shed next door and installed two – eventually four – stills inside. Bell’s was bought by Guinness in 1985, with the latter firm going on to controversially purchase DCL the year after to form United Distillers. A period of rationalisation of distilling capacity followed and Pittyvaich was considered as surplus to requirements. It closed in 1993 and was demolished in 2002.

This expression, hailing from a distillery long since shuttered, underwent a lengthy aging process spanning 29 years. During this time, it benefited from a dual maturation process, finding its home in casks previously used to season Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry. Its final destination was a bottling at a formidable 51.4% alcohol by volume.

The overarching motif behind the 2019 Special Release is aptly dubbed ‘Rare by Nature.’ This theme is so subtly incorporated into the label that one might find it hard to discern, as it showcases a particular avian creature. To be frank, we cannot assert with absolute certainty the exact species of this feathered companion. This particular release is limited to a select 4,976 bottles.