Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Pittyvaich Blended Scotch Whisky (2020) 3cl Sample

The fourth in this much talked about limited edition series, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich, draws on rare casks from the legendary Speyside “ghost” distillery of Pittyvaich, a hidden treasure of the whisky world, which closed its doors in 1993 after only 19 years.

Johnnie Walker’s “Blue” is a very fine whisky. How often have we heard Johnnie Walker demeaned? Quite why is hard to fathom. Not the style you like? Fair enough. But so many seem to decry Johnnie Walker simply because of its size and success. They say that around half a dozen bottles of Johnnie Walker are sold every second. Even Blue, seen as its pinnacle, is not spared: “Oh, it is simply made to part Wall Street types from their bonuses”; “It is only made for the Asian market because they will buy anything” (which suggests that whatever dimwit making comments like that has never been near Asia).

The concept of Ghost and Rare comes from the Johnnie Walker master blender, Jim Beveridge. “Rare” represents “rare expressions of malts and grains from existing distilleries.”

Pittyvaich:

This limited edition series sees some of the rarest whiskies reawakened. At the heart of the release is an exceptional single malt from the "ghost" distillery of PITTYVAICH that closed in 1993 after only 18 year of life. The area was once the home and playground of famed Scottish poet Mary Symon, the rolling Speyside hills surrounding Pittyvaich call to mind her renowned poem "HAME": "It's gloaming' on a lown hillside, An' lads... We're... Hame"

It is known as one of the shortest-lived distilleries in Scotland. But in that time, it was able to distil a variety of incredible whiskies, known and loved by connoisseurs around the world. Whisky from that distillery is at the heart of this limited edition blend, along with another seven rare whiskies. Arriving in a sensational bottle and packaging, this is bottled at 43.8% abv and is (quite literally) full of spirit.

In addition to Pittyvaich, other ghost whiskies in the blend include whiskies from Port Dundas and Carsebridge. Rounding out the blend are rarities from (operating) distilleries in Speyside: Mannochmore, Auchroisk, Cragganmore, and Strathmill, plus the Highland whisky of Royal Lochnagar.

On the nose lies notes of butterscotch, apples, pears, and cinnamon. Tantalise your tastebuds with hints of orchard fruits, dark fruit, and sweet berries. The finish is beautifully balanced, with supple notes of honeycomb, soft wood, and a gentle sweetness.

"A richer, bolder whisky than the standard Blue Label, the nose of the new Ghost and Rare is initially huge with notes of caramel and chestnuts, before fading into a barrel char-forward character that evokes plenty of wood plus a big, beefy element that feels a bit daunting to contend with. All of this evaporates on the palate, where a lively butterscotch character quickly emerges, balanced by elements of green herbs, a pinch of powdered cloves, and a racy gunpowder note. There’s a significant vein of savouriness that runs throughout the whisky, something which I don’t immediately associate with Pittyvaich but which could easily be driven by any of the other distilleries in the mix. It makes for a bit of a yin-yang experience, bouncing between sweeter and more brooding characteristics until settling, fitfully, somewhere in the middle. It’s not my favourite Ghost and Rare to date, but it has plenty of charms on display all the same."

43.8% ABV

3cl