Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky – A Celebration of Scottish Maritime History

The Cutty Sark is one of the most famous ships to ever set sail and is a prestigious part of British, and particularly Scottish, history.

The Cutty Sark was constructed in Dumbarton, Scotland, way back in 1869. She was not only one of the last tea clippers to ever be constructed, she was also one of the fastest. Named after the short shirt of the fictional witch in Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns’ 1791 poem Tam o’ Shanter, she is an iconic piece of Scottish history.

But what does a ship have to do with whisky? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot, because Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky is proving to be one of the more popular blended whiskies out there. With so many expressions to choose from, there are 3 in particular which whisky aficionados can’t seem to get enough of.

Here’s a better look at Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky, and 3 of their most popular releases to date.

Cutty Sark Whisky

Whereas blended whisky has perhaps not always been as popular as single-malt, the good news is that lately we’ve seen a sharp increase in the amount of premium quality blended Scotch whiskies.

Cutty Sark is a brand of blended Scotch whisky, produced by French company La Martiniquaise in Scotland that was first produced way back in 1923 by Berry Bros & Rudd in Speyside.

The name is derived from the world-famous clipper ship we spoke about earlier, which was built on the River Clyde.

Cutty Sark whisky is not only enjoyed across Scotland and the UK, but was also distributed across America, with largely positive reviews.

Just one look at the product, and you know you’re in the presence of a spirit that honours Scotland’s rich and storied history. Even the label itself, offers up a rich piece of history as it features a drawing of the famous vessel, created by none other than legendary Scottish artist and sailor, James Macbey.

One thing you’ll notice about Cutty Sark whisky, is the fact that the labels are primarily a vibrant yellow colour. The reason for this is simply down to a printing error. The company initially wanted their labels to be cream coloured, yet due to a printing error, they came out bright yellow. The company really liked the finish and decided to stick with the yellow, which, along with the ship, is now synonymous with the brand.

Cutty Sark Original

The very first member of the Cutty Sark whisky family, we have Cutty Sark Original.

This blended whisky was created to pay homage to the origins of whisky produced in Scotland, thanks to the expertise of Master Blender Stephen Woodcock.

For those who love a smoother, lighter, fresher, and more unique whisky with a distinctive character, this is the perfect dram for you.

At 40% ABV, and a pale sunflower yellow colour, many draw similarities between this whisky and a lot of the more popular Irish whiskey products currently on the market, and we can see why.

On the nose floral notes, Scottish heather, freshly bailed hay, summer herbs, and plenty of summer fruit shining through.

On the palate, you should pick up citrus peel, fresh lemon zest, malted barley, vanilla custard, toasted almond, and a hint of salted caramel.

The finish is exquisitely smooth, with more vanilla shining through, notes of Scottish shortbread, ripe orchard fruits, and gentle, throat-warming malt.

Cutty Sark Prohibition

Up next, we have the unmistakable Cutty Sark Prohibition.

Unmistakable thanks to its black glass bottle design and black and white label, this release is in homage to renowned captain William ‘Bill’ McCoy, who fearlessly smuggled Cutty Sark whisky into the USA during the prohibition era of the 1920s.

This higher strength edition comes in at 50% ABV, so it is quite the step up from their original blend.

Often referred to as the ‘Real McCoy’ this warm golden nectar is perfect for cocktails and makes one heck of a mean Old Fashioned.

On the nose you should pick up notes of vanilla custard, pear drops, citrus fruits, sea-salted fudge, and complex floral notes.

On the palate, dark chocolate should be instantly detectable, coupled with butterscotch fudge, toffee, roasted peanuts, malt, and a touch of spicy black pepper just to round everything off nicely.

The finish offers lingering warmth and is incredibly smooth, offering more toffee and vanilla notes, rounded off with golden malt and a touch of spice.

Cutty Sark 12 Year Old

Finally, we have Cutty Sark 12 Year Old, which is one of their most popular products.

The 12 Year Old, which was described by renowned whisky writer Michael Jackson as a ‘whisky for the beach’, is a complex expression offering a wide range of flavours and profiles.

Matured for more than 12 years in carefully selected ex-sherry and bourbon casks, the whisky is then subject to a marrying process which enables it to be filtered at a higher temperature in order to retain some of its more complex notes and flavours.

At 40% ABV, and a gorgeous pale amber colour, this is another very smooth whisky offering a wide selection of sweet, spicy, salty, and floral notes.

On the nose you get caramel and pears gently poached in mulled wine from the get-go. Sniff again and you’ll pick up aromas of caramel, marmalade, buttery shortbread, summer meadows, and cut hay.

On the palate, vanilla shines through, complimented by tropical fruits, malted bread, rhubarb and custard, crystalised ginger, vanilla custard, and a touch of dark chocolate.

The finish is as smooth as you might expect with a blended Scotch, offering a hint of sweet oak, seaweed, sea salted chocolate, and a touch of fresh lemon and lime zest.

If you’re looking for unique, award-winning, limited-edition, and just downright delicious Scotch, you’ve come to the right place. Here at GreatDrams.com we offer a wide range of delicious whiskies, primarily Scotch, which cater for all palates, all preferences, all budgets, and ones which you won’t find at your local supermarket.

Whether you’re looking for a sweet and fruity tipple, a lightly smoked dram, a heavily peated whisky that really warms on the way down, or a delicious and unique blended Scotch just like this one, we’ve got something for everybody.

Don’t take our word for it, though, take a look around our site and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Tags: Blended Scotch whiskyCutty SarkScottish Maritime History

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.