Cutty Sark

Review Update: 18 February 2024 It’s 7 years since I last reviewed Cutty Sark here and I’ve just killed off a bottle. I always have an affordable blended scotch in the cabinet for mixed drinks, scotch ‘n soda and so on and I rotate through the available cheap blends available at our local liquor shops. This time it was Cutty Sark’s turn again. Sadly, in comparison to my impressions from 2017 this whisky has noticeably slipped in stature. The nose is less agreeable having only mild cereal and ethanol in evidence. There is still a light fruity quality to the cereal notes but it has lost its sweetness. On the palate it is even less impressive with only a rather industrial cereal presence and a good deal of bitter tannin from what must have been very old multi-refill casks. The finish is as fast as lightning, and it burns in the same manner. It’s more or less undrinkable neat, but if used in very small quantities with soda, cola or dry ginger ale it’s OK and you still get a hint of the old sweet citrus notes, but if you use too much the inherent bitter metallic personality shows up. Not a recommended buy at the moment, and I’m dropping my rating by half a star. “Adequate” : 70/100 (2 stars) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Review from 22 August 2017 Whisky number 3 from my recent purchase of 12 affordable blends. Nose: Fruity sweet with some cereal and honey notes. It's light and fresh but the sweet character gives it body - it's certainly not a dry scotch profile. I'd risk a guess that the oak used for this still had a spark of life left as it's not overly bitter or tannic, at least in comparison to some blends at this price point. Palate: Also lightly sweet but not as fruity as the nose - more like barley sugar with a creamy cereal quality and a slight oilyness. It's a nice mouthfeel, particularly for a lower-priced blend. There's a nutty hint and a little caramel. Finish: Very Short. Cereal flavours and a slight sweet hot spice, but this scotch has no persistence at all. On the whole it's pleasant and compared with other blends in the price range it represents reasonable value. It is a good mixer with dilution bringing out even more sweetness and even the faintest smoky flavour. It makes a very nice highball but is easily overpowered by cola or dry ginger. The profile reminded me a little of Ballantine's Finest but Cutty Sark has a sweeter character, particularly when diluted, and a bit less body. The dry glass has an unusual floral-charcoal aroma, but it is very light. "Average" : 75/100 (2.5 stars)