Oh Taste & See: Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch

Over the past few years Prohibition themed bars, cocktails, TV shows and even clothing styles have taken America by storm. From the smash success of Boardwalk Empire to the popularity of 'moonshine' style white whiskeys, if it can be related to Prohibition it seems to be a big seller. Not to be left out, some of the most venerable names in whisky are drawing on their history to bring us whiskies inspired by Prohibition-era styles.

The latest entry in the Prohibition niche is Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch. Traditionally, Cutty Sark is a solid, if oft-overlooked blend here in the U.S. and it has certainly fallen off the public's radar a bit since the time when it was LBJ's favorite tipple at the White House. With Prohibition Edition (or Cutty Pro as they're calling it for short), Cutty Sark is breathing some fresh life into the brand and bringing us a unique, full-flavored blended whisky at a very reasonable price point (about $30/bottle).


Color: Cutty Pro is a very bright honey color with a nice viscous look to it when you give it a swirl. I'm sure there's a bit of caramel coloring added for consistency, but the overall look of this whisky lines up with the aroma and flavor nicely.

Nose: There's just a hint of iodine smokiness in the nose, followed up by notes of grainy malt and rich brown sugar. For a 100 proof whisky, there is absolutely no alcohol burn to the nose, and you can really take your time and savor the gentle smoky-sweet vibe of it.

Flavor: Cutty Pro is a full-flavored blend that should appeal to folks who traditionally drink balanced single-malts (think Speysiders) or for blended Scotch drinkers looking for something with a bit more punch. It has some dark coffee and chocolate notes hovering around, along with a decent splash of oak flavors and caramel. After a few sips it gets sweeter too with hints of marshmallow. Overall it's a very easy sipper for a 100 proof Scotch, and any hint of burn is much more peppery-hot than boozy-hot.

Finish: Cutty Pro sports a nice gradual finish with just a tiny hint of smoke, and a graham cracker flavor that sticks around for quite a while.

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition has been popping up in more and more places, so if you see it in your area check it out for yourself and see how it pairs with your new fedora and the latest episode of Boardwalk Empire.