New Arrival: Caskstrength and Carry On Cutty Sark
Being a whisky enthusiast can mean a whirlwind of new
releases, tastes, deliveries and card receipts. Keeping track of the
latest ‘limited edition’ or special release can be very difficult never mind
trying to find the funds to finance your enjoyment. I’ve always debated what
does the term ‘limited edition’ actually mean? In numerical terms our own
opinion on of what is limited is open to debate.
As a teenager I can recall rushing out to buy the latest
vinyl picture disc release and these were conveniently stamped with their own
unique number. Whereas a small record label might issue a minimum vinyl edition
of 500 units, the major labels were going into the tens of thousands. Yes, that
term ‘limited edition’ is open to abuse.
Last year it reached a saturation point in my eyes with the
Highland Park Thor release last year. This was the initial instalment in its
Valhalla series. Much criticism ensued with the edition
number and price point coming in for major flak. Most of us wouldn’t mind
paying £120 for a decent aged whisky but not a 16 year old. The follow-up Loki
has now seen the light of day with the same packaging so the jury is still out.
Keeping track of all of this and others on the horizon such
as the mysterious Glen Livet Alpha release (limited to a far more sensible
3350 and £99) is bewildering and costly. So those chaps over at Cask Strength have
stepped into the carnival with their own series of bottles dubbed the alphabet
series. They have decided to tour A-Z through whisky and they have just release
their C edition which is a blend of all things! Cutty Sark, a famous name and
this bottle is a special commemorative one-off of 500 blended by the chaps and
the master blender herself Kirsteen Campbell.
This is the 1st time I’ve taken the plunge after
sidestepping the A and B releases. This Cutty Sark edition is just 500 bottles (some still left at Master of Malt as I type this) and the initial 100 come with a Cutty Sark/Cask Strength tote bag and a special
edition newspaper – so that’s what we have here. The bag is a little cheap but
that’s what you’d expect from a tote however the newspaper packs some
interesting pieces into its 8 pages offering more content that a daily Metro
newspaper. Humour is never far from the agenda either with both Joel and Neil
combing for a page 3 that should end the Sun staple now!
It is a nicely put together package and good on Cutty Sark
for diving into the whole concept fully. Even if you didn’t manage to be one of
the 1st hundred the bottle is still signed by the trio there’s a
unique Cutty Sark in there. Refreshingly, costing just £34.95 for a special blend
of a very famous variety this is very easy on the wallet. Oh, and it is bottled at
51.4% ABV or 90 UK Proof thereby packing a punch more than other blends. If
only other releases were like this and priced accordingly. Where will the D
entry take us? Dalmore unlikely, Deanston perhaps? Only time will tell.