Whyte and Mackay Triple Matured Blended Whisky

One of the more affordable whiskies here in Mauritius is the Whyte and Mackay Triple matured blended whisky. It had been a while since I last tried anything from this brand, so I decided to give it a go.

In Mauritius, it’s priced at around Rs 1300, and in the UK, it retails for about £18. This puts it in the same price range as other well-known blends like Vat 69 and White Horse whisky, making it a budget-friendly option.

Whyte and Mackay was founded in 1882 by Charles Mackay and James Whyte. The two saw a business opportunity to provide the shipbuilding workers of Glasgow with an affordable yet enjoyable whisky, which led them to launch their own proprietary blend, Whyte & Mackay Special whisky.

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Today, the company is owned by Emperador Inc., a Philippines-based firm, and ranks as the world’s 26th largest blended Scotch brand. They also own five distilleries across Scotland, including Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn, Tamnavulin, and Invergordon grain distillery. Their portfolio also features John Barr, Claymore, and Shackleton’s brands.

The last whisky I sampled from this portfolio was the Tamnavulin Double Cask single malt whisky, which wasn’t to my taste. I was curious to see how Whyte and Mackay’s budget offering would fare.

The Whyte and Mackay blend undergoes a triple maturation process. It combines malt whiskies from the Scottish Highlands and Speyside, which are first blended and married in sherry casks. After that, grain whisky is added, and the whole blend spends additional time finishing in sherry casks.

Whyte and Mackay Blended Whisky Review

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Rich mahogany gold

NOSE: Sweet aromas of honey, vanilla, and dried fruit. There’s a creamy malt undertone, with notes of raisins and sherry. While it’s not the most complex nose, it’s pleasant, creamy, and carries a faint woody warmth.

PALATE: The taste reveals honey sweetness, oak, and malt, combined with black pepper. More dried fruits come through, along with fresh oranges, creamy toffee, and a hint of cinnamon. Water softens the slight alcohol heat, making it smoother. The whisky has a medium body overall.

FINISH: The finish is medium length, with creamy wood, marmalade, oak, and black pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I really enjoyed this Whyte and Mackay whisky, and it’s probably my favourite in the more affordable whisky category. John, however, wasn’t as enthusiastic, as he prefers a spicier profile. But this triple-matured dram works quite well for someone with a sweeter palate like mine.

It’s not the most complex whisky, but at Rs 1300 / £18 (on Amazon), I wasn’t expecting it to be. The sweetness is rich and well-balanced with wood and spice notes, and a few drops of water make it a very smooth and easy-drinking whisky.

I noticed that the sherry influence on the Whyte and Mackay Triple Distilled whisky nose doesn’t carry through much into the palate, which was a bit surprising. Nevertheless, it’s a solid and enjoyable whisky for the price.

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