VAT 69 Blended Scotch Whisky

I love a great whisky .... so when lockdown in South Africa started and a ban on alcohol was enforced , i could not stock up on the expensive brands. Vat 69 surprised me. You have to let it breathe ... perfect stretched with a club soda on a lazy sunday afternoon.

13th September 2020

Really love it

18th May 2020

Grate taste I love it

6th July 2019

This is theeeeee best. i love it my dad was drinking it and i was like dad my voice has change maybe i'm catching flu and i heard that if you drink vodka, brandy or whisky you will be better then he gave me a tot and from that moment i fell in love with it ;)

31st January 2019

Drinking this in Spain bought for bargain at under 8 Euros a bottle. This used to be part of DCL’s stable. Still excellent. This (along with Dewar’s and Teacher’s) is a favourite. Excellent in a rusty nail or whisky Mac.

19th November 2018

I'm a rookie scotch drinker, and I found a bottle of 69 at my fathers house as we where cleaning it out. It has a old pink tax label over the cap. I assume it may be from the 80's. the flavor is excellent.

27th September 2018

Very easy drinking. A touch of sweetness and nice balance.
Incredible value for money!

13th August 2018

At $29.95 in Australia, this is the blended Scotch for me! It mixes perfectly with dry ginger ale and ice...who could ask for anything more?

9th July 2018

For me currently best value for money 'social' whisky!! I don't share my Single Malts!

24th June 2018

It's the whiskey that I love and recommended for every occasion

17th June 2018

This is a really nice blend at a great price.
Sure it's nice to have a great single malt, but given what you need to spend to get a smooth one, sometimes a good blend at a fraction of the price hits the spot!
This is easy drinking with a little sweetness.
Very reasonable and very recommended.

14th June 2018

A million thanks to those tasters hired by Sanderson to taste the different blends he created and for selecting whatever blend was there in VAT No.69!! Neat, with water, with soda or with ice, VAT 69 is King!

2nd April 2018

You need to let this baby breathe before tasting then the more woody and subtle eucalyptus notes come out. If you don't let it breath it will taste like siberian fuel at first dram. Not really my go to but if your a bandwagon pusshole then stick to Black label. Vat69 has its own unique qualities that grew on me. Black Grouse, Chivas, and Vat69 all have thier special places in my memories. Just waiting to try Vat Gold and hoping I dont get a bootleg bottle from Maharashta..lol

21st February 2018

My favourite Whisky hands down

22nd January 2018

It is containing sugar or not

8th October 2017

Bright and zesty. Very good inexpensive blended scotch.

29th September 2017

good flavour of premium taste

9th July 2017

Being an Indian I always love to drink Vat 69. I'm doing this from last 13 yrs.The taste is very awesome with perfect blend.

19th May 2017

This has been my Scotch for over 40 years. Recently, all the bottle tops changed from gold to black and the first black top bottle I bought was so bad that I contacted DIAGEO to see what had happened! They actually sent me a refund check! Now, I have exhausted all resources for the gold top "half gallons" (how it's sold here in the States) and am facing trying the black top once again. I hope the bad bottle was just a fluke! I really love this Scotch! Wish me luck!

12th March 2017

Normally I don't drink whisky, but when I do, I choose only Vat 69 mixed with Cola and ice; Great taste!

26th January 2017

Getting it for my son-in-law, he loves it!

21st December 2016

great taste. I like this Scotch Whisky.

24th November 2016

Vat 69 costs these days in Argentina (in our currency: around 60 to 100 pesos) about $5 to $ 8 usd, it has nothing to envy to JB or JW red, it's taste: quite standard and regular, yet some sort of taste os wheat and barley that I find pleasent, Good stuff for the price. Slainte

26th September 2016

For the price I don't think you can buy a better whisky,nice complex flavour great easy drinking whisky. To me the japanese blends are the only ones better than this but they are mostly double the price, it's certainly better than the cheap rubbish in our supermarkets(Jura,glenfiddich,arbelour)

3rd August 2016

I Love it.

3rd April 2016

Outstanding great taste with great legacy

6th March 2016

Old faithful...

1st March 2016

VAT 69 you are number one

20th February 2016

its awesome

18th February 2016

Good

1st February 2016

Vat69 is aweomse whisky

30th January 2016

Price has very little to do with it .......this will always be a favourite!

29th January 2016

I enjoy the VAT 69 very much.After watching the Band of Brothers,I was determined to search for nothing but the best for Mrs. Nixon's baby boy.I will share it with those who enjoy really fine Scotch Whisky.
1st January 2016

2nd January 2016

I always found it very good, but as a family member I may be biased

16th December 2015

I don't care what you haters say, VAT 69 is an outstanding Scotch. I had never tasted it until just now, after reading some of the reviews. I expected a taste of swill, judging from the negative reviews, but was remarkably surprised by the smooth, sweet taste I encountered. DELICIOUS... As a side note, this bottle I cracked open tonight, was very hard to come by. Couldn't find it in California, London, France, Belgium...I took a " Band of Brothers" Tour to honer the 101st, Air Bourne Division, which was amazing and I highly recommend to those who feel the same, and have seen the HBO series countless times as I have.... So, three weeks ago, I was in a little tobacco shop in Stuttgart. I looked up on the shelf and there it was, a 21Euro bottle of VAT 69. I couldn't believe my eyes. If you are a fan of the show, you understand my exuberance. I will enjoy every drop of this and will share it only with those who are worthy. Get some for yourself, that's all I can say. CURAHEE.... Cpt. Acosta in California.

28th October 2015

It is VFM Whisky. Not expensive and smooth.

23rd June 2015

i HAVE BEEN DRINKING VAT 69 FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS A VERY SMOOTH WHISKY THAT ANYONE CAN ENJOY.

29th May 2015

so good....

29th April 2015

For 200 php, yup less than 5 american dollars in the Philippines this is whisky for everyday after dinner consumption... it keeps my other whiskys safe from my attentions.

27th April 2015

Everybody knows of VAT 69, it's label is recognizable to all whisky drinkers, yet somehow it is almost impossible to find on a shelf or even online here in New Zealand. I finally managed to find a bottle and find out for myself if I was in for a good blended whisky or long awaited disappointment.
I was surprised to find it was better than I expected. The nose is sweet and hot with hints of malt, hay, and citrus. The Palate confirms the nose with plenty of heat from the young whisky with a sweet spiced bite. The finish is a mid length bitter oak flavour that is not unpleasant.
Overall this is a simple and enjoyable blend for those who drink young blended whisky. It benefits somewhat with a drop of water and time in the glass. At the price I paid it has quickly moved to best value blend in my collection.

Joe Nelley

8th April 2015

Lovely, smooth, easy to drink and really cheap blend...doesn't have much of a finish and could linger longer, but it's inoffensive and polite. Taste of honey sweetness and fresh fruit - inexpenisve yes, but not cheap

25th March 2015

not bad

20th January 2015

Not Bad!!!!

9th January 2015

Excellent nose, sweet palate and long but rather flat finish. Simple but enjoyable blend!

22nd December 2014

Excellent nose, sweet palate and long but rather flat finish. Simple but enjoyable blend!

21st December 2014

Excellent nose, sweet palate and long but rather flat finish. Simple but really enjoyable blend!

20th December 2014

Excellent nose, sweet palate and long but rather flat finish. Simple but enjoyable blend!

19th December 2014

Had the misfortune to encounter this hideous concoction at an all-inclusive resort, and even though I didn't have to pay for it, the insult to my taste buds made it too expensive! I have no idea how this product has remained in production for so long.

8th November 2014

Currently drinking a Vat 69 vintage is between the 1940's - 1950's. Extremely rare bottle, label says Territory of Hawaii. Incredibly smooth, like drinking a good cognac. probably over the years the "angels" took a portion. The cork broke when we opened it so there must have been some evaporation.
too bad the recent blended scotch does not have that character.

5th November 2014

22.55€?! In Croatia is around 8€... Normal price, without any discount...

4th November 2014

VAT 69 used to be the best blended whisky around, with a "Jamiesons" sort of a flavour. Not been able to find any for ages, until this year. Twenty pounds, oh well. WHAT a disappointment, Flat, Harsh and Horrible. Half of it went down the drain. Nuff sed, but I'll still remember the good old days

2nd November 2014

Its too better for celebration parties.

17th September 2014

Budget whiskey. Not offensive. That's about it. No woody, caramel and all that. No comparison with anything else. Even Red Label or Black Dog is more complex than this. But it is less offensive than many other similarly priced scotchs

14th September 2014

if you the taste of rubbing alcohol,this is your drink.

8th September 2014

I prefer the Haig scotch whiskeys. Haig&Haig Five Star was my favorite. However, my brother in law, who has enough money to but a distillery and who could buy any scotch made by the barrel, has been drinking Vat 69 since 1950. I have tried to put him onto Ballentine 30 year old but he politely declines and goes back to Vat 69.

4th June 2014

i love this whiskey,simple, smooth, uncomplicated whiskey. my tipple of choice. got a bottle of jonnie double black for my birthday, took one sip, gagged, and gave it to my neighbor! considering the rand is almost 15 to the pound and it costs 17 pounds in the uk, here we only pay R99! bargain!

25th May 2014

I am drinking more and more whisky as I come to the close of a dissolute life and I am now returning to the Scotch whisky spirit and rejecting the gins, vodkas,rums, tequilas etc., et al, et al, of my youthful days. These days I want a nice drink that is not over-oaked, is kind of sweet, doesn't burn too much and kind of fits the bill of a friendly "prop" whisky. I remember serving this Scotch in an hotel I worked in (in Scotland) as this was the company's "house" whisky. Customers claimed they hated it but none could ever pick it out in a blind tasting along with other "props".
It is OK, alright, satisfactory - and fills the niche when I just want a plain, ordinary glass of Scotch without having to "chew" etc.
VAT 69 is fit for purpose, providing you know what the purpose is.

4th April 2014

If you are in to single malts ( highlands) you will loathe it. All this Fruitcake Caramel Wood are nonsense,its plain spirit and nothing more. If you want a better whiskey get Black Dog over it anyday.Black Dog has that Caramel Buttery Creamy taste.If you have low tastes get this or the slightly better than VAT ,the Red Label.

24th March 2014

very nice

17th March 2014

vat 69 is not smoooth compared to its price. for 750 ml in bangalore it is 1290rs. try black dog its is 1460 rs for 750 ml and far better than vat 69. vat 69 sucks!! coz is wasted my money for trying vat 69. id u want to try vat 69 go for 180 ml bottle

17th March 2014

Someone encouraged me to try it. It gives a good impression at first with a nice caramelized woody flavor but leaves a petrol like flavor afterwards which is disappointing. Won't buy it again

1st March 2014

Great value for a very nice blend

17th February 2014

I poured 69 in Johnie Walker bottle over the festive season,and my buddies loved it! hi hi hi ho.....69 forever we go

7th February 2014

Hi there! We have some older versions of the Vat 69 right here on our website (http://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/sandersons-whisky-distillery/). None from the 1940s (yet), but some do seem to have the bottle shape you're after! If we manage to find any from the 1940s, we'll make sure to list it on site, so do check back! --The Chaps at Master of Malt

29th January 2014

anyone who knows where I could buy an older type vat69, with the type of bottle that were shown in Band of Brothers, so a vat bottle from 1940-1945? (or older)?

28th January 2014

Passable budget blend, slightly 'marzipan' sweetness with some kick.

13th January 2014

Today i drink first time....near 200 ml...(though the bottle was 375ml)....it does't work to me...no effect...im really shocked.

1st January 2014

Usually only drink single malt, but this is a lovely whisky, I drink it straight and it's a nice evening drink

28th December 2013

People saying "this is petrol/kerosene like" should just go and get a glassof OJ at the nearest juice bar. Citric bite, wood flavor, strong taste, not for everyone of course. Only for the ones that really appreciate a great blend.

12th December 2013

vat 69 is very bad drink issne mere papa ke 26 sall barbad kar de deye

11th November 2013

If you want to try this without spending too much, just go to the garage and buy a litre of petrol.

26th September 2013

Some reasonable fruit cake character but there is an obvious caramel artificial taste here in the most recent sampling from the Vat 69 bottled in Australia, as at August 2013.

7th August 2013

VAT 69 to me seems to be "we at 69",before realizing this about the name i had felt that it has a taste like biting a girls hair weird it may seems but thats the taste of VAT 69 as i get it, and 69 obviously makes me feel that the taste is close to a taste as one get in 69 position with the hairy feeling dominating so now i know why any one would try get close to that taste in making of an alcohol as no one would bite hair otherwise but in 69 position one may. VAT 69 rocks its one of my favorite blend, the name rocks too.

14th July 2013

I deemed Vat 69 the best blended scotch whiskey available back in 1962 and bought it exclusively. Then, Les Amis de Von(Spelling) published an article about scotch-tasting parties similar to wine tasting parties where strong cheeses replaced bread and soft cheese as a palate cleannser between scotches. They also published the results of a blind scotch tasting by experts. the results were that Vat 69 and Johnny Walker Black Label were the only blended scotch whiskeys rated excellent. Within a year, the price of Vat 69 doubled so I switched to single malts.

20th June 2013

Half-decent whisky, actually quite okay for being a cheap blended scotch. Obviously compares bad versus a single malt, even a young and rather cheap one, however that is expected due to it's price. The bottle is simply aesthetically embarrassing which adds that cheap feeling to the experience.
In my opinion this whisky needs a slight amount of water to be at its best.
I would buy a twice as expensive bottle anytime though, as taste is for me more important than the cost

26th April 2013

An ideal summer dram with friends not too complex but just a very good, well made simple blend, with a wonderful interplay of vanilla, honey and wood, a Bargain..

13th March 2013

What people are calling a kerosine like taste I think is actually a really nice citrus skin bitterness, this is quality blend, and with a price tag of £16.70 this is definitely worth including in your next order.

5th February 2013

Vat69 has a good strong flavor and a smooth light finish. It is good on the rocks or with a little water.It's affordable here in South America.

29th December 2012

Vat 69 -Highland Cream- White Hourse
Nothing .....but really nothing (even Premium Blends with 12 years)
are better like this 3 brands of blended scotch!!
three old breed brands!
Yes of course I like Single Malt but why not sometimes a very good blend!
Blending like Vat69 or W.Hourse it's real Art!! Good save the Master-destillers for this magnificent work!!
slainte

8th November 2012

I first heard of this brand reading Band of Brothers tried it and loved it this is a drink for real men damn right!

19th September 2012

it's a great great blended whiskey, nothing complex or fancy, but you are not looking for that when you are buying this. Way better *(way!!) then red label, Jack Daniels, Ballantines, JB, Black Label...contender for Chivas Regal, but way cheaper. I would chose this over some of the "entry" level single malts to...but just some of them

23rd August 2012

Enjoyed it wid frnds, very smooth, never burns as it goes down ur throat, strong smell,no hangovers,light and quick effects immediately,sublime..

16th July 2012

I have tasted V69 in 2010 & i have since fell in love with it,i just love it............

11th April 2012

Have tasted V69 in 2010 & i feel in love....love it...

11th April 2012

Having VAT 69 and loving it

1st April 2012

I'm having a drink right now, really not bad considering the price (7,79€).

27th February 2012

i first had this when i was in a trip with my friends,its really worth to pay for it.

2nd December 2011

a magnificent blend. As the last Plant Manager of the South Queensferry
Plant I can vouch for its quality. Sadly Diageo dont rate it highly enough
to invest in the UK market.

5th October 2011

i have a bottle V69 in the house from menstrie distillery 25 years ago for safe keeping.

17th August 2011

Spent many years in Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe and this was always my Number One purchase at Gatwick and Heathrow.

30th July 2011

It looks very expensive.

15th June 2011

I have sipped VAT69 thirteen years ago and have been a fan of it since.great flavour great aroma super smooth...love it!

27th May 2011

A touchstone favorite. Pretty smooth. Light, fresh and clean. An excellent whisky for hot climates.

22nd May 2011

A touchstone favorites. Pretty smooth. Light, fresh and clean. An excellent whisky for hot climates.

22nd May 2011

Not refined or subtle. Heavy wood flavors. Good strong burn. The weak won't like it. The old breed will have nothing else.

18th April 2011

Its like you are having kerosene too much grain whisky for someone who likes to take the malt ones. I spent money on this once..never again..too sweet for me.

21st February 2011

Its by far the best booze. ever. When I go drinking, I drive only VAT. Only for a Nixon! ;)

5th February 2011

This is my favorite scotch. As much as i love the taste, the coolest thing about this whiskey is that it does not get more old school than Vat 69. Cheers.

12th January 2011

I got this Scotch because I saw it in the Band of Brothers. It was the drink that Lewis Nixon drank. This was hands down the best blended Scotch I have had. Even with the shipping to the US it was well worth the money. It was very smoth.

25th November 2010