While I have a stockpile in case of emergency, I generally have enough samples of recent releases to tide me over. However, sometimes I just want to shake things up. For example, I’ve been spoilt with rare, expensive whiskies as of late, so I thought it time for a review of an honest, modest blend from yesteryear – a 1990s bottling of Pinwinnie Royale Scotch Whisky.
This sample was shared with me by Tim, a fellow Dutch blogger who shares his thoughts here. Pinwinnie was a fairly common blend but it has been discontinued before the turn of the millennium. The name on the front of the label, Blairmhor Distillers Limited, quickly leads to Inver House Distillers, current owners of distilleries such as Balblair, Old Pulteney and Knockdhu.
These distilleries were acquired by Inver House in the late 1980s and during the 1990s, so some of those malts might well be included in the Pinwinnie Royale Scotch Whisky. Or could a few drops of Glen Flagler have found their way into this blend? This malt distillery was part Inver House’s Moffat whisky complex, but it closed in 1985. Garnheath is another option. Also part of the same whisky complex, this grain distillery shut down just a year later.
Mind you, all the above is just pure speculation, and an attempt to understand a little bit more about Pinwinnie Royale Scotch Whisky. In the end, the only proof is in the pudding…
Pinwinnie Royale Scotch Whisky (40%, OB, 1990s)
Nose: Very light and gentle – weak even. Hints of porridge, wet sawdust, a touch of plastic, some copper coins, and just a slight note of pickled lemons.
Taste: Just a whisper of toffee, some gentle oak spices, scorched plastic, and medicinal oat cookies. (I’m sure that’s not a thing.) Very watery, with almost no body to speak off.
Finish: Short to medium. Plastic-y whispers, a touch of honey.
Photo: Whisky.auction
Nicely done. The average whisky consumer has never had it as good as they do today.
To Tim
You’re opinion and review of Pinwinnie Royal 12Year old Scotch Whisky to me is not really relevant,
Scorched plastic, and Medicinal oat cookies,
Are descriptions I have no recollection of ever had the pleasure of sampling,
I personally don’t think ridiculous remarks or opinions that appear to me try to impress a superior taste level above and beyond normal whisky flavours acceptable and enjoyable to normal scotch whiskey lovers,
Please accept this criticism and opinion of someone who loves the beautiful and passionate pleasures of the joys sampling delicious moments of whisky,
Hi Dan, thanks for your comment. Not sure who Tim is, but I assume you’re addressing me. Of course, tasting notes are inherently personal. I don’t expect my reviews to be relevant to everybody, and neither should you.
Not sure if you’ve been reading my reviews for a while or if this is your first visit to my website, but generally you’d need to follow a reviewer for a while to discover if their palette aligns with your own.
Rest assured, I do not write these tasting notes to impress. I would love to hear what flavours you find acceptable and what constitutes a “normal” Scotch whisky drinker.
I totally agree with your comments, the guy doing the tasting must have been drunk and falling into a rubbish dump!!!
I can assure you that’s not the case 🙂 I’m a champion of responsible drinking. Why anyone would ever drink to the point of inebriation is beyond me.