Here’s a blog post for all my readers in the Southern tip of North America, Central America, South America and Asia. Well it’s also for the rest of you too, because this is an interesting whisky although not too well known here in the US.

This a Blended Scotch you probably haven’t heard of even though they’ve been around since 1861. And that’s a shame because it’s a pretty decent dram. This limited edition 150th Anniversary bottling will be available only in Russia, Paraguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay and Vietnam.

The Scotch in question is Catto’s Limited Edition 25-year old 150th Anniversary Bottling, 40% ABV. There are only 2,400 bottles, each with a limited edition Lochinvar crystal decanter. These are boxed in a limited edition black leatherette finish container with gold foil print and will be available in export markets from September 2011.

The whisky’s founder, James Catto, so the distributors literature says, is a legendary figure in the development of the Scotch Whisky industry, being credited as one of the very first whisky blenders. It was in 1861 that he began his business in Aberdeen by deciding to blend the high quality local Highland malt whiskies he sold in his grocery store with popular Lowland grain whiskies until he felt he’d created the finest blended Scotch – his whisky was an instant success. (This is also the way Johnnie Walker got started in the whisky blending business in his grocery in Kilmarnock, some years earlier.)

Catto’s portfolio includes Rare Old Scottish, Deluxe 12 year old and the 25 year Special 150th anniversary edition.

Notes from the Blender say the 25 year old is a “well balanced blend, amber in color and sweet and spicy on the palate with a long lasting toffee and raisin finish.” It received a gold medal at the IWSC awards in 2010, was awarded best in class for Deluxe Whisky and has just won a gold at the International Spirits Challenge Awards.

Brand Manager for Catto’s, Lynne Buckley of International Beverage Holdings said: “James Catto was an innovative Scot, creating a blend that has stood the test of time and is still as popular today as it was then. We’re delighted to be able to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his blended whisky and hope that his legacy continues on for a long time to come.”

In the 2011 Whisky Bible, Jim Murray rates their 25 year old 87.5, their Deluxe 12 year old a 79.5 and their no age statement Rare Old Scottish a 92.

This was my first taste of a Catto’s Blend and I was favorable impressed. The 150th Anniversary bottling is light gold in color and the nose was slightly spirity with and orange/lemon fruitiness, some light banana and dark cherry. On the palate it starts off with a sweet caramel, is a bit oily in texture but smooth with light maltiness, dark chocolate and a slight woodiness. Its finish is medium in length with a subdued chocolate and a mild back pepperiness. A bit more body would give a boost, but at 40% it is a bit thin. 85-90

Since International Beverage Holdings, Catto’s distributor (not to be confused with InBev, new owners of Anheuser-Busch) also distributes Old Pulteney, Balbair, anCnoc and Speyburn it is possible to speculate that some of these singles are in Catto’s but the only confirmed info I could get states that, “Garnheath and Balmenach are included in the current 25-year old, along with other grains and malts.” If I had to guess I’d say there is some Balbair and a bit of Speyburn. Only the master blender knows for sure. The Catto’s blends are blended and aged at the old Moffat Distillery, which used to produce grain whisky and single malts Glen Flagler and Killyloch.

Glen Flagler can only currently be found in the award winning 40-year old Hankey Bannister blend. All five of the former Inver House single malts can be found in Hankey Bannister Original blend. Balmenach is not bottled as a single malt and Garnheath is a grain whisky from a demolished grain distillery.

Catto’s is distributed by International Beverage Holdings an arm of ThaiBev a South East Asia alcohol beverage companty. Their other brands include:

Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand

Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn

Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister

Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941

Caorunn - a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

More info on Moffat Distillery, Glen Flagler Distillery and Killyloch Distillery:

http://www.maltmadness.com/whisky/glen-flagler.html