A rare bottling of Prince Charlie Special Reserve blended Scotch whisky, produced by Lawson & Smith back in the 1980s. It was named after Bonnie Prince Charlie himself, and features his silhouette on the label.
A whisky dedicated to the memory of the last Scottish Prince – Charles Edward Stuart, the legend known as Bonnie Prince Charlie .
Era and Bottling Style:
Prince Charlie Special Reserve from the 1970s-80s is likely a blend, as the “Special Reserve” designation generally refers to a higher-quality blended Scotch. During this period, whisky blends often emphasized smoothness and balance, with an emphasis on sherry cask influence and well-aged malts. So, I drew from the general characteristics of Scotch blends from that time, which often had a smooth, honeyed sweetness, mild fruitiness, subtle spices, and gentle oak influence.
Brand History:
Prince Charlie, while less widely known, was marketed as a premium offering in that era. The blend would have been created with a balance of malt and grain whiskies, likely with a good amount of older stock to maintain a smooth, refined profile. Whiskies from that time period often had a higher percentage of malt whiskies, contributing to the richer, more complex characteristics that I described.
Common Tasting Notes for 1970s-80s Bottlings:
In general, whiskies bottled in the 1970s-1980s (both blends and single malts) tended to have certain common characteristics due to production methods and cask aging practices of the time. These included a smoother mouthfeel, more pronounced sherry cask influence (especially with dried fruit, caramel, and spices), and a gentler, less peated profile compared to some of the more intense modern expressions.
Bottler Lawson & Smith Ltd. (L&SL)