Built in 1869 with an iron frame and a wooden hull, the Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship that was designed to transport tea from from China to London. At the time of its construction, the tea trade was intensely competitive and substantial bonuses were paid to ships that arrived in London with the first tea of the year. As a result, the Cutty Sark was engineered to be one of the fastest ships in the world, logging a maximum speed of 17.5 knots. The ship's name was derived from the nickname of Nannie Dee, a witch in Robert Burns' poem Tam o'Shaner. Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky is produced by Edrington of Glasgow, whose main offices are fewer than 10 miles away from the birthplace of the clipper. Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition pays homage to Captain William McCoy, who smuggled Cutty Sark whisky into the United States during Prohibition. His reputation for dealing with unadulterated liquor (at the time, many bootleggers mixed their spirits with other liquids in order to increase yield) gave rise to the Cutty Sark being referred to as "The Real McCoy." Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Scotch Whisky is crafted from a blend of the finest single malts and top-quality grain whiskies available in Scotland, including whiskies sourced from The Macallan and Highland Park. Once the whiskies were identified, they were married together in hand selected American oak casks and then brought to 100 proof before being bottled. As a result, the whisky has a golden honey color, along with an aroma of ripe citrus, orange zest and fragrant spices. The aroma gives way to notes of toffee, creamy vanilla, pepper and coffee beans on the palate, and leads to a finish accented by touches of oak spices and sweet fruit. "This blend is created with exact precision as Captain McCoy himself would approve to celebrate the 80th anniversary of such a significant era," says Kirsteen Campbell, the distillery's Master Blender. Pick up a bottle today!

After nearly a century of adventures and discoveries, CUTTY SARK has gathered its passion and expertise to create a 12 year old high quality Whisky. Offering a mellow mouthfeel, the expression is balanced by complex notes of spice and fruit.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Alluring, golden, and bright

Nose: Dried fruits and poached pears with caramel and gentle clove spice notes

Palate: Malty and bread notes blend into fresh tropical fruit, rhubarb, ginger pudding, vanilla, and a subtle hint of chocolate

Finish: Citrus fading to a wood spice and gentle sea salt sensation on the lips

Elaborated With Commitment And Precision

The expression is matured over 12 years in carefully selected Bourbon and Sherry Casks. Then the Whisky goes through a marrying process. Allowing it to be filtered at a higher temperature to retain smooth flavors.

“Aged for 12 years in hand selected oak casks and with notes of dried and tropical fruits, spice, cloves, ginger, and a subtle hint of sea salt, CUTTY SARK 12 YO Blended Scotch Whisky pays tribute to the ship’s many anchor points and its long, proud maritime history.

”Stephen Woodcock, Master Blender

A Statutory And Audacious Whisky

“The extra age and body are carried gracefully in a well-balanced blend that shows an​ extra dimension to CUTTY SARK Original. A welcome addition to the range and one that will appeal to drinkers looking for the ‘sweet spot’ of quality and value. Works well as a stand-alone dram or in mixed serves

“Ian Buxton​​, Whisky Expert

CUTTY SARK Prohibition is crafted as a salute to the famous Captain William "Bill" McCoy, who smuggled CUTTY SARK Blended Scotch Whisky into America during the Prohibition era in the 1920s. Captain McCoy's impeccable reputation for not dealing with the mob, and for providing the finest, unadulterated liquor gave rise CUTTY SARK being referred as "The Real McCoy".

« Terrific. Just fabulous. Tremendous base for cocktails too. ».

Gary Regan, Legendary Bartender, Prolific Cocktail Author and Co-founder of The Institute for Mindful Bartending.

Appearance: Warm golden colour

Nose: Complex & powerful with soft, ripe citrus fruits, honey & vanilla

Palate: Creamy richness, hints of toffee with peppery notes

Finish: Super smooth with lingering warmth & subtle spices