Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MACKAY, prop. n. In phr. the real Mackay, the genuine article, the true original, the real home product (Edb. 1870); a brand of whisky so-called (see note).Lnk. 1856 Deil's Hallowe'en 25: 
A drappie o' the real McKay.Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 166:
A thumblefu' o' the “rale Mackay” to mak' a' richt.Sc. 1883 Stevenson Letters to Baxter (1956) 123:
There's myself — he's the real Mackay, whatever.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 23:
Come yer wa's for the “real Mackay” when I get on my Jirr boa.m.Lth. 1922 “Restalrig” Sheep's Heid 71:
Weemenkind hae sadly deteriorated, Moolie! In oor days . . . they had a certain grace which stamped them as the rale Mackay!Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man (1953) 1:
Forbye, the stuffie's no' the real Mackay.Sc. 1957 Scotsman (25 Nov.) 8:
The use of substitutes for the “real Mackay” had grown as it has in the South.