Brand: Cutty Sark
Ownership: The Edrington Group (previously Berry Bros. & Rudd)
Distilleries: Many (though Glenrothes-centered with some Macallan and Highland Park)
Type: Scotch Blended Whiskey
Age: minimum 3 years
Alcohol by Volume: 40%
Named after one of the last great British tea clipper ships, Cutty Sark Blended Whisky was created in 1923 by Francis Berry and Hugh Rudd. Berry and Rudd wanted to fashion this whisky for the international market, specifically for the US (whenever the Americans' damned Prohibition would end). Because Berry and Rudd were foremost wine merchants, they also wanted to create a blend for their wine clientele. A whisky lighter and fruitier than other blends, and naturally colored.
During Prohibition, bootlegger Captain William McCoy, known for bringing in only the best of the best (hence, "The Real McCoy"), introduced America to this brand. Apparently everyone's efforts worked. By 1961, Cutty Sark had become the top selling blended Scotch in the US (though it no longer holds that position). In 2010, The Edrington Group (owners of Macallan and Highland Park) bought the brand from Berry Bros. & Rudd and have been distributing it since.
There's a peated Cutty (known as Cutty Black), a blended malt, and a series of aged blends (12, 15, 18, and 25 years). But the flagship (so to speak) product is the young basic blend.
DISCLAIMER: I have the utmost respect for Berry Bros. & Rudd, The Edrington Group, as well as Cutty Sark's important place in Scotch Whisky history. But I have my doubts that the blend recipe for the current product is anywhere close to what it used to be.
I'll list the tasting notes, then comment.
NEAT:
Color - Very light gold
Nose - grain heavy, overripe bananas, brown sugar, but mostly a rush of derelict wino whisky vomit
Palate - Grass, moonshine, the sad sours, turpentine (aka The Turps)
Finish - I wish it would finish
WITH WATER:
Nose - like a grainier(!) oakier version of Black&White with a hint of rotting flesh
Palate - creamy, nillas, and The Turps
Finish - mercifully brief
HIGHBALLS:
Palate - a little more vanilla and saccharine, but it's raunchy no matter how much ice is added
Like skunk funk or vomit or other glandular secretions, Cutty's palate cannot be scrubbed away with water. It gave me terrifying flashbacks to college-era toilet-hugging puke-scapades, and I'm not even sure those were my memories.
I'm not alone in this judgement. To quote the glowing reviews of the Los Angeles Whisky Society:
"Nose is fruity, with pee. Palate is initially awful. Then it doesn't get better. I don't like anything about this and can barely drink it. Barely." "Bottled sewer water." "I think maybe this tastes like pee, not that I know what pee tastes like, but if I did drink pee, I think this is what it would taste like." "It tastes like flat beer with Splenda. This is vile, hideous stuff."This is the stuff that ruins blended whisky for beginners. Blends do not have to taste like this.
It's not the worst whisky I've had (though it's close to making the bottom 5), but I had such a hard time understanding how this could be appealing. I have to believe that it was better once, back before mass production, when malt contents were higher and better. Having heard many whisky fans bemoan the quality decline of many blends, I have to believe that this is another one that's been tarnished.
I'm very thankful that I didn't buy a 750mL bottle just because the price was right. The $2.99 for a 50mL was thus a worthwhile expense.
Availability - Everywhere :(
Pricing - Fair(?) at $17-$20
Rating - 60
I have to agree with you on the standard Cutty Sark but I'm still open on trying the older versions. To me Cutty Sark is just a little too rough tasting.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, I wouldn't mind attending a masterclass with Cutty Sark's master blender (if she hosts them). Kirsteen Campbell is very easy on the eyes.
According to this month's Whisky Advocate, Ms. Campbell does do classes/tastings. I would definitely enjoy attending one of those. She really does have her work cut out on that standard blend, oof. There are some semi-dusties of the standard blend to be found in the LA area, but I'm not sure I'm willing to sacrifice that much for science.
DeleteWell, Cutty Sark is finally stepping in the right direction with their Prohibition Edition. The malt content appears to be higher and 50% ABV means quite a bit more flavor. And packaged in the blackest bottle I've ever seen (like how much more black could they make it and the answer was none more black). So here's hoping other blend take note.
DeleteNice Tap reference! Apparently Black Bottle's new bottle will actually be black again.
DeleteAs far as Sark goes, I'm going to need some serious convincing that the Cutty Prohibition is free of turpentine, vomit, and piss.