Vat 69

Vat 69 has been around for over 140 years - and you don’t last that long in the whisky business if your Scotch isn’t built to make it. Famously this whisky did made it to the ‘Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914’ as a bit of a panacea and a celebratory drink, as well as being the favourite whisky of Captain Lewis Nixon of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. If you’re a series-buff, this is where you probably remember it from; Vat 69 was featured in the book and TV series Band of Brothers.

Vat 69 was first made in 1882 by William Sanderson – a liquor manufacturer from Leith in Scotland. The bulbous top of the bottle has been a recognisable part of the brand for over a hundred years, alongside its name. According to legend, Sanderson asked a group of experts to taste a hundred vats – another name for casks – and they agreed the one numbered 69 was the best one. The name stuck. Vat 69 is a blend of about 40 malt and grain whiskeys, often lauded for being smooth and well rounded. Buy your first bottle online here and mark the beginning of a new favourite.