The last article from the recent tweet tasting focused on the Whisky Cellar brand which is a simple enough concept of a single cask bottler. The pintail brand is a slightly different concept though which focuses on finishing whisky in sweet wines and homes in on those who want to experiment and try something a little new or actually quite a lot new.

The Pintail name comes from both the duck by the same name and the whisky brand from 1931 by Matthew Gloag & Sons. The labels used today are very similar those used then as well.

The bottles from the brand are available from the following retailers

Both brands are available to buy from:

• Aberdeen Whisky Shop
• Master of Malt
• Whisky Castle
• Top Whiskies
• Cork & Cask
• Spirit of Alba
• Lockett Bros

The Whisky

The 14 year old whisky had an initial maturation in a recharred oak hogshead in 2009 with a second maturation phase in a barrel which previous held Picolit wine. The resulting 288 bottles are at a strength of 56.4% ABV and can be yours for the low low price of £80

All of that fine but I bet you are asking “What is Picolit wine?” I know I was.

Picolit is a Italian sweet wine from the Fruili-Venezia Giulia region in the North-East of the country this is a low volume wine similar in some ways to Sauternes. Tasting notes for Picolit wine could include citrus peel, honey, dried apricots, peach and floral notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose – Tropical fruit salad with cream, candied citrus peel, toasty oak, hessian bung cloth and damp forest floor

Palate – Tinned peaches with syrup, almond oil, cracked black pepper, waxy lemon peel and Golden Delicous apples

Finish – Juicy and waxy with grapefruit, sweet ripe pear, dandelion and burdock cordial, bergamot oil and warming oak spice

official tasting notes

Colour – Golden Yellow and so thick and viscous that it doesn’t have legs but coats the entire glass in a layer of liquid which literally sticks and holds its shape in the glass

Nose – the visuals give an indication of the smells. its really intense rich, dense and sweet. Honey and wild flowers, golden syrup and peaches

Palate – tinned fruit in syrup and apricot jam, sharp apples

Finish – pepper and oak spices, rich tea biscuits and a pot of tea

Final Thoughts

Extremely interesting dram using an innovative cask. I must confess to being put off sweet wine or desert wine finishes in my whisky after a terrible experience with a Tullibardine. It turns out though like there is a whisky for everyone there is a finish for everyone as well because this is delightful. I especially like the way that the nose and palate are sweet and rich but in the finish the original maturation kicks though on its own and becomes peppered and spicy.