Cutty Black 100 Proof Blended Whisky 50%

Fifty percent on a blend is rare today. It was not in post-war America, where 100 proof stood for something you did not have to apologise for.

Expert description

Cutty Black 100 Proof is a Blended Whisky bottled at 50% in a 75 cl bottle.

The 100 proof designation comes from the American system, where the proof figure is exactly double the alcohol percentage. The 75 cl format and the black label place the bottle in an earlier era, when the Cutty Sark house ran several parallel expressions for different markets. The higher strength gives more body and a longer finish than the ordinary bottlings from the same family.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and dried fruit first, then honey, oak and a warm spiced note from the strength.

Palate

Full and powerful. Cereal, caramel and orange peel, with a dry oak edge and a peppery warmth that the fifty percent carries without burning.

Finish

Long and dry, with malt, nuts and a persistent spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Black 100 Proof Blended Whisky 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 75 CL
Edition: 100 Proof
EAN no.: 721059207508

Flavour profile

Malty · Dried Fruit · Spiced · Full-bodied · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. The release is discontinued, the 75 cl format is out of production, and blends at 50% are a rarity outside American market editions.

Did you know?

The proof system comes from an old British method where spirit was poured over gunpowder and set alight. If the powder caught, the strength was proven — hence the word proof. The Americans later fixed the number at double the alcohol percentage.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Cutty Black 100 Proof

What does 100 proof mean?

It is the American measure of alcohol strength, where the proof figure is twice the alcohol percentage. 100 proof therefore corresponds to 50%.

Why is the bottle 75 cl?

Because 75 cl was standard across much of the world before 70 cl became the European norm. If you see 75 cl on a whisky bottle, you are certainly looking at an older release.

What is a blended whisky?

A mixture of malt whisky and grain whisky, usually from several distilleries. See the full selection in our Blended Scotch Whisky.

Does a blend at 50 percent taste different?

Yes, markedly. The extra strength gives more body, a longer finish and clearer oak character than a standard blend at 40%. It also takes water and ice better.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat or with a large ice cube. At 50% it easily takes a couple of drops of water, which loosen the fruit and take the sharpness off the spice.

Is it worth keeping?

The format is discontinued and the strength unusual for a blend. Those are exactly the details collectors look for in older bottles.