39.105 - "Pirates puddings on the deck"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 21/01/2015 - 19:45

14 years old, distilled 1st June 2000, 58.1% abv, refill ex-bourbon hogshead, 290 bottles

48.53 - "Big boots fruity bruiser"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 21/01/2015 - 19:42

12 years old, distilled 1st November 2001, 57.8% abv, first fill ex-bourbon barrel, 228 bottles

41.62 - "A picnic at harvest time"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 21/01/2015 - 19:39

11 years old, distilled 14th August 2003, 61.4% abv, first fill ex-bourbon barrel, 225 bottles

123.12 - "Treasure hunt"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 21/01/2015 - 19:36

12 years old, distilled 17th December 2001, 57.6% abv, refill ex-bourbon hogshead, 267 bottles

SMWS January 2015 Outturn

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 21/01/2015 - 19:27

A larger than expected outturn for January, made special with an old Macallan and a new grain distillery - Dumbarton.

Quite a few drams that I felt were a little too light for these cold days - better suited to summer's evenings - but that merely provokes conversation and brings back fond memories, so it's no bad thing. The Dailuaine in particular proved popular amongst everyone who tried it, but was surpassed by the Linkwood in my opinion.

And there was a decent selection of three peated drams, none of which will disappoint - but the best was definitely the Bowmore. I hate camping, but a bottle of that could make it tolerable!

SMWS 90.5 - "Kola Kubes and Lilt"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Mon, 15/12/2014 - 20:44

Pittyvaich is a very curious distillery. Built in 1975 and closed in 1993, it ran for less than 20 years and didn't get much of a reputation. Almost all its produce went for blending, with a little going to the a Flora & Fauna expression. I've had the occasional independent bottling that wasn't to my taste, but on the whole I've generally been quite impressed.

I must admit to a little bias in favour of Pittyvaich - it's one of the first "off the beaten track" distilleries I ever tasted. Having tried everything that the local off-licenses offered, I eventually found myself in the Milroys bar (so this was some time ago!). I was asked what I'd drank and what I'd enjoyed, and promptly offered a Mortlach and Pittyvaich (both Flora & Fauna). I therefore have fond memories of both...

This is the third SMWS Pittyvaich that I've been luck enough to try. The others were 90.1 and 90.10 - the latter being the last Pittyvaich we ever saw from the SMWS (in the UK, at least). This makes for a curious pattern - almost as if I'm attempting some kind of half-arsed binary search through the Pittyvaich SMWS bottlings. One can but hope!

10 years old, distilled May 1992, bottled October 2002, 59.4% abv

SMWS 53.216 - "BBQ in pine-clad dunes"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 07/12/2014 - 22:43

21 years old, distilled 13th July 1993, 60.6% abv, refill ex-sherry butt, 597 bottles

SMWS 120.7 - "Sweet, fragrant and satisfying"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 07/12/2014 - 22:40

14 years old, distilled September 1999, 55.5% abv, first-fill Bota Corta, 517 bottles

SMWS 24.127 - "Northern Lights"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 07/12/2014 - 22:36

23 years old, distilled 16th April 1991, 47.7% abv, refill ex-bourbon hogshead, 262 bottles

SMWS 25.66 - "Bette Davis doing DIY"

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 07/12/2014 - 22:31

23 years old, distilled 14th November 1990, 57.8% abv, refill ex-bourbon hogshead, 157 bottles

SMWS