This whisky is a recent addition to the core range of popular blended Scotch brand Cutty Sark. It has been created by Stephen Woodcock, Master Blender for the brand, to show Cutty Sark’s adventurous spirit. The whisky features three main cask types for maturation – ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-Port wine. Woodcock selected aged Highland and Speyside single malts, and married them together for 17 months in sherry and Port casks. He then united those malts with Lowland grain whisky matured in first-fill bourbon casks.
The Cutty Sark brand was created in March 1923. This is said to have happened at a lunch between the owners of London wine and spirits merchants Berry Brothers & Rudd (Francis Berry and Hugh Rudd) and Scottish artist James McBey. It was named after the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper ship, and legend has it that McBey started drawing the logo of the boat on a napkin.
The brand was aimed at the export market and particularly Prohibition-era America, where it rapidly grew to become the best selling Scotch whisky there. Cutty Sark remains hugely popular in the USA and across the world. It is currently owned by La Martiniquaise. The new 17 Years Old sits alongside a core range of blends which features the iconic Yellow Label, the smoky Prohibition and a series of age statements at 12, 15, 18 and 25 years old.
The Cutty Sark 17 Years Old is bottled at 42.3% ABV and is presented in a black glass bottle. This is accompanied by a black and yellow exterior box featuring a rope and eyelet detail as a nod to the brand’s nautical heritage. It is available globally in specialist whisky and luxury spirits retailers. A bottle will cost £90/ €105/ US$120.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is sweet and fruity with a malty undertone. Aromas of golden syrup and sultana are quickly joined by dried red apple and vanilla toffee. Then come further aromas of caramel, sticky toffee pudding and hints of milky chocolate. The maltiness is reminiscent of Maltesers or Horlicks rather than cereal. Hints of cinnamon clove and oak also come through.
On the palate this whisky has a wonderful creamy and citrussy feel to begin. Orange marmalade and a hint of fresh lime peel mingle with notes of butterscotch, milk chocolate and creamy vanilla custard. The maltiness is more biscuity now, while a creamy nutty notes also evolves – this is reminiscent of hazelnut praline and macadamia. Further fruity notes of luscious juicy apricot and stewed caramelised plum develop later.
Then comes plenty of golden syrup and runny honey-like characteristics. This borders on sugary but is stopped from being too sweet by a complex combination of subtle notes. Imagine a marriage of bitter orange oil, creamed coconut, cocoa powder and freshly ground coffee. Towards the end, spices really come to the fore – think of cinnamon and clove, plus pinches of white pepper and powdered ginger.
The finish is of decent length and full of flavour. The bold sweetness and fruitiness both hold superbly before slowly fading. The marmalade-like element is now especially prominent. Then the oak and warming spices really come to the fore. This gives a peppery dryness and a little tannic woody grip.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a wonderful offering from Cutty Sark. It is rich, apricot-like, with lashings of marmalade and a distinct creamy feel. There is plenty of depth and complexity created by the casks used and the warming spicey notes created. This whisky feels perfect for the time of year and filling in a hipflask for a long Autumn or Winter walk. It is an excellent addition to the range and one which shows how good older aged Scotch blends can be. And for decent value too.
