Richard Paterson

Master Blender for Whyte & Mackay

Information: Founded in Glasgow in 1844 by James Whyte & Charles Mackay

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Status: Operational

Official Website

Special, NAS, 40% ABV

A blend of 41 'constituent parts'

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich, dark oak

Nose: Currants, rich malt, dark (brown/rye) bread dough

Palate: Slightly watery mouth-feel, very smooth, rich, full-flavoured, malt & dark fruits.

Finish: Intense but quite short to medium.

Overall Impression: A good house dram!

The Thirteen, 13y, 40% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Deep gold

Nose: Feshly polished antique oak, hints of marzipan and floral notes.

Palate: Very smooth, aged oak, marzipan with light icing on a Christmas cake.

Finish: Long and floral towards the end

Overall Impression: Another fine recipe from Whyte & Mackay's Master Blender.

Old Luxury, 19y, 40% ABV

A blend of up to 35 Single Malt & Single Grain whiskies

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Teak, dark amber

Nose: Aged oak, raisins, prunes and just a hint of rather mature Alpine cheese.

Palate: Delightfully smooth and creamy with raisins, currants, dark berries, the faintest hint of marzipan and a touch of that Alpine cheese.

Finish: Very long, smooth and rich.

Overall Impression: Good stuff from W&M, a rich and winter warming blend.

21y, 75cl, 43 deg. (% ABV)

An older bottling from Whyte & Mackay

Typical cost of this bottle; Unknown

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Dark oak with coppery tinge.

Nose: My initial thoughts are of an older grain whisky with hints of milky toffee and butterscotch. After some minutes in the glass it develops a more pungent and herbal character.

Palate: Dry and quite herbal in fact it reminds me a rather herbal wine (Gewürztraminer). Also a suggestion of wild mushrooms.

Finish: Long and herbal.

Overall Impression: Different, unusual and not at all bad.