Manufacturer Cutty Sark

The History of Cutty Sark Whisky

CUTTY SARK Scots Whisky was created in March 1923 when the partners of wine & spirit merchants BB&R discussed the launch of a new whisky. At the time, the popularity of Scotch Whisky was beginning to grow around the world. Senior partner Francis Berry had a strong belief in the potential for a new style of whisky - a naturally elegant and smooth whisky that could appeal to the palates of their fine wine clientele and that would challenge the conventions of the Scotch category. He insisted that only the finest and most delicate malt whiskies should be selected for the new blend and that the whisky should be naturally light in colour.

The partners had invited James McBey, a well known Scottish artist, to a luncheon that day to discuss the launch. It was he who suggested the name and designed the label for the new whisky. The whisky is named after the 19th century tea clipper, which was the fastest sailing ship of her day. At the time, the tea clipper of that name was being brought back from Portugal to be docked in London. It was the big story of the day. She was named after a young witch who was dressed in a ‘Cutty Sark’ or ‘short shirt’ and who ran as fast as the wind in a Robert Burns’ poem (Tam O’Shanter).