Cutty Sark whisky is named after the Cutty Sark ship which was built a mere 10 miles from the Cutty offices. The ship was built in 1869 and was among the last clippers built for the transport of goods. The rise of steam powered boats brought an end to age of the wind powered sailing ships and ushered out an era of beautiful sea faring vessels and ushered in the dominance of ugly but highly functional sea faring machines.
Cutty Sark the scotch whisky was created in 1923 and by Berry Brothers & Rudd, but is now owned by the Edrington group which means it should be no surprise that it supposedly contains both Highland Park and Macallan single malts. Their official documentation states that it’s “mostly Speyside” whisky and looking around the web the speculations about what else is in there support that claim with Glenrothes and Tamdhu being the most commonly mentioned. I’ve also seen Bunnahabhain and Glengoyne mentioned, but without the distillery saying so it’s all speculation.
Cutty Sark Info
Region: Scotland
Bottler: Edrington Distillers Limited
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Supposedly Natural Color (definitely looks like it)
Price: $21*
Cutty Sark Review
EYE
Honey
NOSE
A light nose of Orchard fruit, honey candy, wheat thins, malt, frosting sweetness and a light bit of spice and citrus peel. Really not a bad nose. A little light, but definitely not bad.
PALATE
Fruit, honey, vanilla, malt, light citrus, buttercream frosting and a touch of char. It really does remind me of a basic Speyside.
FINISH
Short and malty with notes of fruit, honey and frosting.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a smooth easy texture.
OVERALL
Cutty Sark is a blend, but it’s definitely on the upper end of blends and, for the most part, I’ve always considered it quite palatable. Not a world changer by any means, but Its overall character reminds me of a basic no-frills Speysider and it has a nice balance and sweetness to it. Yes it’s light, but it’s also cheap and for about 1/3 the price of an average single malt this will do just fine as a mixer and a cheap, but tasty, whisky to stretch the life of my more expensive drams.
SCORE: 79/100
*Disclosure: This Cutty Sark was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Cutty Sark Review - Score Breakdown
Value
Cutty Sark is a great value. It’s better than some NAS single malts, it’s better than some pricier blends and can be picked up for 1/2 – 1/3 the price of an average single malt.
Overall
- Nose - 80
- Palate - 79
- Finish - 79
- Balance, Body & Feel - 78
I find cutty as one of the best of 3 yr. old blended scotch, better than Johnny Walker Red.
Totally agree it’s better than Johnny red, cheers Ronald!
Funny thing my father used to drink one beer and one shot of Cutty Sark…….that’s how i meet this scotch …years later on a bartender pour me a Cutty on the rocks with a sip of 7Up soda….35 years later that’s what i drink on hot summer days in florida.
Cheers!
About all my dad drank for years. A navy man ended in the oil field. Heavy smoker and coffee drinker. When his stomach was iffy ne put his Cutty in milk. A salesman tried to bribe him to use his drill bits. Offered a months pay. Dad whipped him and ran him off. He always used another brand rock bits. Finally figured it out. A bottle of Cutty was perfect size to fit in the bit in the bit box, which he always opened on arrival. Insulted by a money bribe but not scotch. My uncle owned the company and only drank the most expensive. Gave them to my dad who gave them away and drank Cutty. Didn’t give the Cuban cigars away though.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
At age 86, I’ve tried about every Scotch there is or ever was. My goto for many years was The Glenlivet. Never liked Johnny Walker, etc. Just TG. Until I was pouring one day and a huge fly poured into my glass along with the whiskey. I notified the company, thinking they’d probably reimburse me for the $110 or so I paid for the big bottle. They consistently ignored me for a couple of years so I said screw it. Looked for an inexpensive scotch, found Cutty, which my antecedents (from Scotland) all drank, and I’m happy. I also have a few more bucks in my jumpers. LOL
Oh wow, that’s a gnarly story and very piss poor service on Glenlivet’s part. But glad you got the Cutty, and the extra jumper cash ;) Cheers!
The poet Hart Crane praised Cutty Sark, and drank too much of it and anything else he could find. He even titled section III of his long poem “The Bridge” (1930) after it:
I met a man in South Street, tall—
a nervous shark tooth swung on his chain.
His eyes pressed through green glass
—green glasses, or bar lights made them
so—
shine—
GREEN—
eyes—
I wonder if he was thinking of the Cutty Sark bottle?
Sure sounds like it
Greetings,
Cutty Sark was a favorite of my father. He passed away many years ago, but, I remember his lovable rants of how back in Cutty Sark’s (the ship) days, “Ships Were Made Of WOOD And The Men Who Sailed Them Were Made Of STEEL.” This was the prelude for me bringing him his bottle of Cutty Sark and then hearing about time on his father’s fishing fleet of small boats in the caribbean. Of course the whisky and the ship have nothing to do with another. For me Cutty Sark the drink stands for those great moments of life remembered, stories told and the nostalgia of never knowing my grandfather, a Captain of Men Of Steel.
CHEERS!
Wow, this was an awesome read. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Angel!
Been enjoying Cutty Sark for years on the rocks (my idea of a mixed drink) . A few years back, found some Glen Cairn in a thrift store for $1 each. When I got home, I was out of single malts and only had a bottle of Cutty, so (after washing the glass), I gave it a try. This is a lot better scotch than I had given it credit. Light and simple yes, but the ice is was covering up a lot, and what flavor there was good. It lacked the weird flavors or complete lack of flavor that many cheaper scotches have. As you say in it’s review, the prohibition edition is even better, but at the price, the regular Cutty Sark is a good choice both straight or on the rocks. I do not think adding water helps though.
I totally agree, I usually don’t add water to anything below 50% because it’s already had so much added before it hit the bottle that it’s fairly well-watered and opened. Cheers David!
My father-in-law worked in the Cutty Sark bar in London in the 60s, but says he’s never tried the scotch. His preference is Chivas or Macallan, but now that I know CS is part Macallan I’ll convince him to give this a try!
Awesome, let us know what he thinks!
Stopped in the state-run Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits shop today for my bi-weekly 750 of Grant’s and happened to see Cutty Sark on sale. Only a dollar cheaper than Grant’s but I figured what the hell, try something different. I was not disappointed! I tried it neat first and while I’ll probably not usually enjoy it that way I found it inoffensive neat. My go-to nightly highball is Lime Bubly with blended scotch, I found the Cutty Sark most enjoyable. Thanks for the review. Bought it sight unseen (so to speak) and your review confirms my luck. Glenfiddich on the other hand… only neat!
Thanks for sharing Sean, cheers!
Old School Cool
My old man had several bottles of this on hand at all times. Solid scotch that brings back lots of good memories and tastes good, too. Straight with one small ice cube is how I like it.
Nice, thanks for sharing Frankie. Cheers!
Can’t disagree with the review or comments thereon. For me, CS is a quintessential “Scotch & Soda” Scotch and I absolutely insist that’s a good thing (especially now living as I do in hot & humid Florida). I’d only just add…it also makes a reference Whisky Mac when mixed with Stone’s Ginger over ice…the perfect “winter warmer” here in the American Caribbean!
Oh, that sounds nice. Cheers MikeS!
I was wondering if someone could tell me why mine have 43% ABV. Besides that, it’s great for the price.
Not sure. Was it a USA release?
I have received a full bottle of Cutty still in a gift box from the 1980s looks brand New Should I drink it or does it carry ant value 86 proof
80s Cutty has no value beyond what it was purchased for off the shelf. Drink and enjoy!
Josh, I’m confused as far as your Cutty Sark rating goes. In the picture it says 79, but at the end of your review it says SCORE 82. Is this a typo or am I missing something?…Thanks.
Nope, that was just an egregious typo. It’s been fixed, thanks for pointing it out!
Tried it for the first time and loved it. Great review Josh! Thanks
Cheers Sagar!
Just bought a 1.75 L bottle of this for $26. I have to say I’m not disappointed with it. Heck of a good deal if you ask me. Love reading your reviews by the way. Keep up the good work!
Cheers Andrew, thanks!
Cutty is where I started in my love of scotch….First Cutty then J&B then Johnny Walker red, then black, then Chivas Regal, and to where I am now, The Glenlevit 12…..nice progression if I do say so myself….
I’d say it’s a pretty nice progression as well.
Cheers!
Growing up in the 1960s, I remember seeing a bottle of Cutty Sark in my Dad’s bar. I think it was the only Scotch he drank, and he always added soda. I’ve tried it and it is not bad. I prefer it to Johnnie Walker Red or Black.
That’s a great memory. Personally I like it a whole lot more than JW Red, but I’m with you on the JW Black. It’s a great blend.
So many good stuff could coume out of this combined with other drinks. Also it would fit perfectly in my cocktail dispenser.
I don’t mind Cutty Sark considering it’s an affordable blended scotch. Alright neat, and it works well with a scotch and club soda or a scotch and water.
Totally agree. For $20 it’s hard to beat.
Cheers!