Once in a while, someone pulls out an old whisky that they got from a parent or friend that is so old no one is sure where it came from or what it is. Some time ago a family friend who knew of my interest in scotch offered me an old and odd bottle of whisky. The graphics were obviously dated and the bottle looks like it had aged more than the actual whisky. The name read Pinwinnie Royal Scotch Whisky and still had the advertising/marketing information with it. I was eager to try it and was very surprised to find it a very drinkable whisky.
This Easter I had it again at his house and googled it and promised him I’d find out some information about it. Turns out it’s a long discontinued whisky that was handed over from the original Pinwinnie distiller to Inverhouse and has since been discontinued. From the packaging and marketing, I think it is from the late 1960’s.
The whisky is surprisingly good, very soft and rounded. When I nosed it I thought it may be a Speyside product, I was happy to see I was somewhat correct in that. I actually enjoy drinking it and actually get a kick out of it being a bit odd. I love finds like this one, they are uncommon and for someone who is inquisitive its a fun pursuit to find out information about it. If you have any, enjoy, there isn’t any left! And yes, I do intend on getting the rest of the bottle from him, if not, I will just keep visiting.
theScotchlife 
July 31, 2011 at 2:53 pm
i found a bottle of Pinwinnie Royal Scotch whiskey in it’s original pouch with its tag and pamphlet. The seal on it is perfect. Looks like I just took it off the shelf. The seal has a number on it . i imagine it is from around the 50’s to 70’s not sure. i would like some info on it. I can taqke a picture of it and post it
July 31, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Sure! I don’t know much more than I have written about it but would be glad to do a little research for you.
September 11, 2011 at 9:32 am
I have a bottle of Pinwinnie Royal Scotch Whiskey with a PA Liquor Control Board stamp on it dated 1969-1970. Bottle was a gift and has never been opened. Still has the metal medallion hanging around the neck but no advertising pamphlet. Is it worth anything to a collector or should I just open it and enjoy it?
September 11, 2011 at 9:40 am
Enjoy it! Unlike wine or beer, whisky keeps a constant value once bottled. It may have evaporated some but that should not affect it since the evaporation is proportional to the ingredients. Cheers!
October 10, 2011 at 3:38 am
Pinwinnie is a blend primarily composed of Lowland malts and very high quality grains.
The last bottle I bought was in New Jersey in 1988–probably old stock. Very good stuff.
Elegant in its simplicity, and smooth as silk. Don’t keep half-full bottles of scotch around too long though. The volatiles (alcohol, etc) can evaporate and the whisky does indeed oxidize, even if the cork or cap is intact.
October 10, 2011 at 9:15 am
Thanks for the input Tommy!
March 1, 2012 at 10:25 pm
I found a bottle, unopened, in the original plastic wrap, seal and in the velvet bag, at the house of my best friend’s mother in law. She doesn’t drink. Anyway, she is moving now and my friend (who doesn’t like Scotch) gave the bottle to me. I couldn’t resist. I opened it and after chilling it over some ice I find it quite drinkable. I figured it was old but had no idea that it dates to the 60s. I almost feel bad for having consumed it, given it’s age. But after all, isn’t that what it’s for?
March 1, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Jeff! Do not feel bad. Whisky is meant to be enjoyed. And if the current owners have no appreciation for it, you have done then no harm. Besides, this is simply an old whisky, not a particularly valuable one.
March 4, 2012 at 7:42 am
ganhei de meu pai um pinwinnie royale scotch whisky que ten so namao dele guardado mais de 22 anos eu nao bebo gostaria de saber quanto vale esse whisky.
March 4, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Hola, a mi leal saber y entender no creo que este whisky vale mucho dinero. que no era un producto de primera calidad, para empezar.
March 17, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Ahhh, Pinwinnie….my father managed a factory in Philadelphia back in the late 1960s and 70s. Every year on Christmas Eve one of his employees would sneak his gift into the back seat of my dad’s car – a gift boxed bottle of Pinwinnie Scotch. My dad was a Crown Royal man, but my mother loved Scotch. I was in high school but one year at Christmas time I begged her for a sip. She replied, “Oh you won’t like it, scotch is an acquired taste.” Well, one taste of this delectable drink and I was hooked. I only drink scotch occasionally – once or twice a year, neat. But I’ll never forget the Pinwinnie. I’m sorry to hear it’s no longer produced.
September 11, 2012 at 1:24 am
yo tengo una sellada enterita era de la reserva antigua de mi padre te la vendo
September 11, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Thank You but I don’t really want to purchase any. You should drink it!
March 20, 2012 at 6:23 pm
I’ve a bottle of this in my desk… it’s on the middle… last week I proved a little… it isn’t the best one I ever proved but it’s pretty good!!! Before I die, it will gone. And I’ve Ballantine’s Purity too, the next one!
April 29, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I received a bottle this as a gift and enjoyed it. I found it here and there for a while, then couldn’t find it any more. The last purchase I made was 2 bottles in a duty free shop at the San Paulo, Brazil Airport in the early 1990’s. I saved one of the bottles for a special occasion and its still unopened.
January 29, 2013 at 5:56 am
Beste ,
Ik heb een fles Pinwinnie Royale Scotch Whisky als cadeau gekregen eind jaren 1970 . De fles is nog in originele verpakking , dus nooit geopend : British customs certificate of origin no.76/6 , Dated 10/12/76 . Kan iemand mij de waarde van deze fles zeggen ?
Mvg , José
January 29, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Jose, if you like whisky I would open it. Chances are it is still good. As far as valuable? Not so much.
June 14, 2013 at 10:00 am
i was given a bottle recently in its box 12yr old being sold on one of the sites on google for 100£. not opened yet but it wont be long. believe originally produced in airdrie and bought out by inverhouse not sure when.
June 14, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Wow! Didn’t know you could get that much. Good to know.
July 7, 2013 at 4:59 am
This is one of my Grandad’s favorite whisky’s and I was fortunate to track down a website back in 2010 which was still selling it, it’s no longer stocked there and to be honest I think it must have been one of the only website’s selling it and they were probably down to their last few when I bought it. I got it for my Grandad’s birthday and he was surprised and very happy to say the least, so were other members of my family who enjoy some nice whisky. Nice to see that it isn’t just him who enjoys it.
July 30, 2013 at 5:09 pm
I love this whisky. Myself and my long deceased friend John used to share a glass or two many years ago bought from the local shop! It is the whisky of Kings apparently! A beautiful blend that could pass as a malt! Sadly I have two empty spare bottles in their tins. A lovely decorative ornament … cheers to John … 🙂
January 21, 2014 at 4:23 am
I have a bottle of Pinwinnie that I bought in 1984 in Aviemore, Scotland, which I’ve been saving for a special time. That will occur April 10th this year when I reach the age of 50. Ironically, the whisky is perhaps the same age as me? Cheers – ANDY from Düsseldorf, Germany.
January 27, 2014 at 8:11 pm
Enjoy!
February 1, 2014 at 11:53 am
I bought a bottle at an airport in UK, (probably Heathrow) mid 80’s.
The contents are long gone but it’s such a pretty bottle I’ve kept it on the shelf.
Mine was imported to the USA by ME.
February 3, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Would you buy it again?
March 7, 2014 at 9:58 pm
My dad only drank beer or wine, but every Christmas, suppliers and people from work would give him bottles of whisky. Once in a while, if he knew someone really liked whisky, he’d give them a bottle or two, but mostly, the bottles just sat in his basement. After my parents had passed away, I was tasked with readying their house for sale, and I came home with dozens and dozens of bottles, including a bottle of Pinwinnie in its original velvet pouch (which had dry rotted a bit). It was in a box with bottles that had tax stamps from the 60s, so I’d guess that’s when he got the Pinwinnie. Anyway, I now have a lifetime supply of whisky, and I haven’t opened the Pinwinnie yet, but I’m looking forward to it!
March 7, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Good luck!
April 10, 2014 at 12:36 pm
My father-in-law was a truck driver for a distributor for 35 years and has all of these odd/old bottles of alcohol in his basement. One day last year he was cleaning out his supply and said take this – bottle of Pinwinnie. It lloked cool, odd – I love scotch and on a drunken Glenlevit 18 night, my friend and I opened the Pinwinnie. It was awesome. After doing some research the next week I was real upset to see that it is no longer produced and I could have opened a real good investment. Does anyone know what this goes for on the market and will it ever be worth a lot of money? When I say a lot I mean like what rare single malts get in the thousands? I tried it again last week sober and it is one of the smoothest scotches I ever drank
April 10, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Well, it’s not worth a lot of money, but the quality and evening you had will be long remembered!
April 13, 2014 at 7:19 am
I believe this was a blended scotch whisky, distilled in Airdrie, I bought a bottle in 2000 in a store in Keswick, cost me around £20., lovely stuff !!
April 22, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Yes. And popular!
September 11, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Pinwinnie was produced in a distillery in Airdrie as I was from there I used to buy my father inlaw a bottle every Christmas until it wasn’t available. I have a little momento 2 miniatures which on your recommendation I may now drink.
September 11, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Enjoy!
January 4, 2018 at 7:57 am
My late dad purchased a tin /bottle in 1970s it remains unopened although the bottle seal appears to be broken none of the contents have been sampled . The bottle sits in its original tin and was purchased during a summer holiday to Scotland in 1970s . My parents both past away last year and I inherited the bottle .
January 4, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Sorry for your lost of loved ones. May you reminisce the good times with a pour of it from time to time.
January 25, 2018 at 2:31 pm
I have 4 bottles it’s becoming harder and harder to find, I have 3 bottles in the bag and 1 1.5 litre special edition the rocking one. I drink this, if you ever get the chance to taste pinwinnie take it, it has the most Devine aroma and smooth taste. And this used to retail for 15 pounds, how I wish it was that price now. I will enjoy my stash and keep looking for more along my journey. A true find they should make it again, gems like this are hard to find.
October 11, 2019 at 7:07 pm
On Visit to Yorkshire in 2016 to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of a very dear friend, his widow produced a bottle of Pinwinnie that my friend had bought in the 1960’s…….. He had kept the very last dram for me to sup after he was gone…….what an honour it was to sup a whisky he so cherished
October 16, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Slainte