Whyte & Mackay The Thirteen

Whyte & Mackay’s 13 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky is part of the world-famous range of blends created by James Whyte and Charles Mackay, who founded the company in 1844. This particular expression is their core bottling at an unusual 13 years of age, with an alcohol content of 40% ABV. Let’s dive into the tasting notes: Nose: The aroma is quite rich and well-balanced, featuring notes of oak and resin, a touch of sherried peels, and hints of oloroso. There’s also a little honeyed sweetness. Palate: On the palate, you’ll find chewy sweetness that’s soft, rounded, and kind. Finish: The finish is long, with spices making a subtle appearance toward the end. Interestingly, Whyte & Mackay employs a unique “double marriage” maturation process. They blend their scotch twice: first with single malts, which are mixed together and aged in old sherry casks, and then with grain whiskey, which is stored in a fresh set of sherry casks for further aging. This process sets them apart from more conventional whiskey-making methods, where blending typically occurs either before or after aging, rather than during it.