The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
Truth be told, I’ve been expecting Diageo’s Orphan Barrel series to release a single malt Scotch Whisky ever since they delved into Canadian Whisky two years ago with Entrapment. The British drinks goliath owns the single largest chunk of the Scotch industry, as well as the world’s leading whisky brand, Johnnie Walker. With so much stock to draw on, it was inevitable that they would do an American-oriented special release; the question was not if, but what and when.
The what is Pittyvaich, a distillery that was shuttered in 1993 and subsequently demolished. Releasing what must be the youngest stock from that distillery, they have concocted a 26 year old single malt and named it Forager Keep, bottling it at an American-friendly (but decidedly not Scotch-like) 48% ABV. The recommended retail price for this Pittyvaich malt is $399.
