Cutty Sark Blended Whisky 40%

If a single malt is a virtuoso soloist, a blend is a full orchestra. Cutty Sark was created in 1923 by the wine merchants at Berry Bros & Rudd — and they wanted something pale while the rest of the trade made it dark.

Expert description

Cutty Sark is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

The blend is built on around twenty selected single malts, mostly from Speyside, married with high quality grain whisky. When the bottle appeared in 1923 it was deliberately pale at a time when whisky was otherwise sold dark — a decision taken by Berry Bros & Rudd in London, who also named it after the tea clipper Cutty Sark. The yellow label was drawn by the Scottish artist James McBey.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden and light. Grass, flowers and coconut, with a touch of vanilla underneath.

Palate

Complex for something so light. Gentle notes of vanilla and coconut, with American oak, malt and a soft fruit sweetness. The broad palette is the whole idea — no single note sticks out.

Finish

Dry, fruity and spiced, with cereal and a mild oak warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 501050100095

Flavour profile

Soft · Light · Vanilla · Fruity · Fresh

Did you know?

Cutty Sark was one of the most heavily smuggled whiskies during American Prohibition. Captain William McCoy shipped it in from the Bahamas without watering it down, and his reputation for genuine goods gave the language the phrase the real McCoy.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky

Why is Cutty Sark so pale?

Because it was deliberately made that way in 1923, when whisky was otherwise dark. Berry Bros & Rudd wanted a lighter, fresher style, and the pale colour became part of the identity.

What is a blended Scotch?

A mixture of malt whisky and grain whisky, here around twenty malts plus grain. Blends are typically softer and more rounded than single malts. See the selection in our Blended Scotch Whisky.

Is it good in cocktails?

Very. The light, fruity style is almost built for it and does not disappear in a highball, a whisky sour or a Rob Roy.

Is it peated?

No. The malt comes mostly from Speyside, which makes unpeated whisky. For smoke, head towards Islay Whisky.

Is it good for a beginner?

Yes. No sharp edges, no smoke and a soft fruit sweetness most people enjoy. It is also a good way to meet the difference between a blend and a single malt.

What does the name Cutty Sark mean?

It is the name of a British tea clipper from 1869, itself named after a short shift in Robert Burns' poem Tam o' Shanter. The ship sits today at Greenwich in London.