Cutty Sark 25 Year Old Tam O’Shanter
Blended Scotch Whisky
46.5% ABV
$200-$320 (released in 2012 @ £199)
What the Internet* Says
Cutty Sark owner Edrington is celebrating Burns Night 2012 by releasing Cutty Sark 25 Year Old Tam O’Shanter. Tam O’Shanter is the name of the Rabbie Burns poem which introduced the world to the witch Cutty Sark – the namesake of the famous ship, and ultimately the whisky.
A limited release of 5,000 bottles, this is the first whisky blend created by master blender Kirsteen Campbell.
The release is presented in a substantial wooden box, containing a 134 page book with with over 50 illustrated scenes by the late Alexander Goudie who is considered one of Scotland’s finest figurative painters. The box is also decorated in Goudie’s style.
* As this was released in 2012, there is nothing on Cutty Sark’s web-site about it, but this was gleaned from 2012 reports on its release as well as reputable auction sites.
What Gary Says
Nose: Sherry bomb; rich and thick with raisins, rancio, roasted walnuts, ponzu sauce glazed brisket, worn leather with faint pipe tobacco smoke.
Palate: Rich and intense, fruitcake with a sherry reduction drizzle, honey, nutmeg, clove, note of balsamic, bit of peat with pepper.
Finish: Long with dark fruit, spices and fading pepper.
Comments: Wow – this is a really dark dram! Oh – and f’ing magnificent! A truly complex, luscious pour that is everything I hope for in older scotch. I’ll admit – if someone had told me “Hey, I’ve got this Cutty Sark blend that might crack your top 10 all time pours”, I’d have been willing to bet cash they were wrong. Released back in 2012, finding one on a shelf isn’t likely, although if you do – I can’t recommend it enough. In fact, already past the half-way point in 2021 and this is the first whisky this year I’ve put as a 100% ‘Must Buy’. It is THAT good.