Whyte & Mackay | Whisky Den

Bought: Online Whisky Auction, 19^th June 2015

Ratings:
71/100 – Whiskybase (from 1 member vote)

I like finding whisky bottlings at auction that have a bit of history, or capture a moment in time. This is the case with ‘The Whisky of 1990’. To quote details I found online: “to celebrate Glasgow as the Cultural Capital of Europe 1990, Whyte & Mackay distillers Ltd have created this unique limited edition whisky. The specially commissioned painting on the label of The Whisky of 1990 is by distinguished Glasgow artist Archie Forrest. Born in 1950, he is a graduate of the Glasgow school of Art and a regular exhibitor in major exhibitions.”

If you’re interested in art (perhaps even the Glasgow Boys) as well as whisky then you might like to track this bottle down at an auction. The good news is that a full 70cl bottle can still be spotted selling for £30 or less. During my research I found one that had gone for as little as £18. Perhaps that’s because, art or no art, it was never that good a whisky. I will try my 3cl bottle to find out and keep the 5cl for posterity.

Bought – ASDA, 25th October 2013

Ratings:
92/100 – Whisky Bible 2013
81/100 – Ralfy, of www.ralfy.com
Review: – Ralfy – Whyte & Mackay 13yo – YouTube

There aren’t that many blended whiskies scoring 90+ in the Whisky Bible that you can easily find in the supermarkets but the Whyte & Mackay 13yo is one of them. The secret to the rather odd age of 13 years is explained on the back of the bottle, and I quote:

“The secret of the rich, rounded taste of THE THIRTEEN is in the unique Double Marriage maturation process. At 12 years old, when other producers bottle their aged blends, Whyte & Mackay’s Master Blender brings together the finest malt whiskies, then returns them to sherry casks to marry for another year. At 13 years old the second marriage takes place, when the finest grain whiskies are introduced to this blend of malts to create the masterpiece that is THE THIRTEEN.”

In the Whisky Bible 2013 Jim Murray says of THE THIRTEEN – “easily the pick of the W&M blended range” but he does give the 40-year-old 93/100. The cheapest bottle of 40yo I could find was, are you sitting down? . . . a staggering £579.99! I’m so glad they knocked off a penny from £580 or I might have thought it was expensive! THE THIRTEEN cost £17, so for the sake of £563 I think I’ll concede that extra point to the 40yo bottle.