Whether or not you’re new to scotch whisky or in search of a clean, approachable dram to combine into your subsequent highball, Cutty Sark is a reputation price understanding. Created in 1923 by Britain’s oldest wine and spirits service provider, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Cutty Sark is a blended scotch with a wealthy historical past, a lightweight taste profile, and a rebellious spirit that made it a favourite throughout Prohibition, and nonetheless retains it widespread at the moment.
To assist information you thru the necessities, we’ve teamed up with Stephen Woodcock, Cutty Sark’s Grasp Blender. With Stephen as our knowledgeable, this information solutions the most typical newbie questions on Cutty Sark, mixing model heritage, manufacturing perception, and taste notes immediately from the supply.
What Is Cutty Sark Whisky?
Cutty Sark isn’t only a scotch, it’s a chunk of whisky historical past. “Cutty Sark is a revolutionary blended scotch whisky first created in London in 1923 by Berry Bros. & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirits service provider,” says Stephen. “Named after the legendary tea clipper, Cutty Sark has celebrated the spirit of journey for over 100 years.”
Constructed for the U.S. market throughout Prohibition, the whisky was smuggled throughout the Atlantic by none apart from Captain Invoice McCoy, incomes it the nickname “The Actual McCoy” for its authenticity and high quality. It turned a staple in American speakeasies and went on to grow to be the primary scotch whisky to promote over 1 million instances within the U.S. by 1962.
In the present day, Cutty Sark stays a world model, beloved for its easy-drinking model and daring character.
What Does It Style Like?
For anybody cautious of smoky or heavy whiskies, Cutty Sark is a welcome entry level. “Cutty Sark is famend for its gentle, clean, and approachable profile,” Stephen explains. “Blended from the best single malts and high-quality grain whiskies, Speyside malts present a fruity spine enhanced by vanilla smoothness.”
The whisky is aged in American oak barrels, which lend wealthy caramel and vanilla notes. A small proportion of first-fill ex-sherry casks introduces delicate spice and dried fruit complexity. The result’s a pale gold liquid that’s each clear and characterful.
What makes Cutty Sark particularly clean is its marrying course of, a 21-day interval the place the whiskies are left to relaxation collectively earlier than bottling. “The distinctive marrying course of permits the whiskies to mix seamlessly,” Stephen provides, “guaranteeing every sip is clean and fulfilling.”
How Is Cutty Sark Made?
Not like single malt whiskies made at one distillery, Cutty Sark whisky is a mix of malt and grain whiskies, primarily sourced from Speyside. These whiskies are aged individually in American oak casks earlier than being fastidiously blended.
“Cutty Sark is crafted from high-quality single malt and grain whiskies,” Stephen says by way of an electronic mail trade. “The whisky is aged in American oak casks for added vanilla and citrus notes and is mixed and bottled on the Starlaw Grain Distillery in Scotland.”
What units it aside is not only the cask alternative, however the consideration to element in mixing. “The malt whiskies are blended by way of a meticulous 21-day marrying course of to make sure the mix’s delicate, recent flavors,” he notes. The whisky can also be gently chill-filtered at the next temperature, preserving its delicate notes whereas guaranteeing readability and smoothness within the glass.
Why Is It Referred to as Cutty Sark?
The title isn’t simply catchy. It’s additionally literary and legendary. “Cutty Sark Whisky takes its title from the well-known three-masted tea clipper ship, one of many quickest of its time,” Stephen shares. “The ship, in flip, is known as after the witch from Robert Burns’ poem Tam O’Shanter.”
That layered reference, to a legendary ship and a determine from basic Scottish poetry, reinforces the model’s adventurous and distinctly Scottish character.
How Do You Drink Cutty Sark Whisky?
Cutty Sark was born throughout the golden age of cocktails, and that reveals in its drinkability. “Created throughout the Nineteen Twenties cocktail period, Cutty Sark’s clean, mellow profile makes it extremely versatile and excellent for mixing,” Stephen says.
One of many model’s signature serves is the Cutty Sark Highball, a refreshing lengthy drink that enhances the whisky’s gentle character:
Cutty Sark Highball
- 1 oz (3 cl) Cutty Sark
- 3 oz (9 cl) Ginger Ale
- Contemporary lime and ginger ice cubes
To make it, fill a highball glass with ice, pour within the whisky and ginger ale, and garnish with a lime wedge and a slice of ginger.
It’s an ideal introduction for brand spanking new whisky drinkers or anybody seeking to get pleasure from whisky in a lighter, extra informal format.
The place Can I Purchase Cutty Sark Authentic?
Cutty Sark Authentic is extensively accessible in world markets, together with the UK, the U.S., Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. You’ll discover it at main retailers and on-line whisky retailers, typically at an accessible value level that makes it ideally suited for on a regular basis sipping or mixing.
Is Cutty Sark a Good Whisky?
Cutty Sark has earned constant recognition from the business. “Cutty Sark Authentic was awarded Gold on the SIP Awards 2024 and Gold on the SIP Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competitors, Spirits Choice, New York World Spirits Competitors, and IWSC in 2022,” Stephen notes.
That constant gold-standard efficiency displays the care that goes into each bottle, and the model’s longstanding dedication to high quality.
Comparable Whiskies
In the event you get pleasure from Cutty Sark’s gentle, clean profile, you may also wish to discover different approachable blends. Stephen recommends:
Every affords a barely totally different tackle blended scotch, however all share a give attention to steadiness and drinkability.
A Legendary Model
Cutty Sark whisky might have been created in secret throughout Prohibition, however at the moment it’s a scotch that deserves the highlight. With a 100-year historical past, a crisp and versatile taste profile, and a mixing course of overseen by an award-winning grasp blender, it’s an ideal start line for anybody new to whisky. And if you end up able to take a step up, you’ll be able to pattern the deliciously mellow 12 Yr Previous.
Whether or not you’re sipping it neat, including it to a cocktail, or simply studying your means world wide of scotch, Cutty Sark affords a welcoming and award-winning introduction.
