Review #1000: Chivas Regal 12-Year Blended Scotch Whisky

 

Back in the days when dinosaurs ruled the earth, I discovered Scotch. I knew nothing about it other than it wasn’t beer, gin, or tequila. I started with Dewar’s White Label, and when I was satisfied with that, I moved to Chivas Regal 12-Year.

 

Not to knock either whisky by any means, but as my palate became more and more refined, I went down the rabbit hole and branched way beyond those two. Then I got caught up in writing whisky reviews and, quite honestly, forgot about them.

 

Two years ago, I found a 50ml of Dewar’s and published my review. And, as luck would have it, I’ve stumbled upon a 50ml of Chivas Regal 12-Year. This should be fun; I’ve not tried it in Lord knows how many years. As I publish my 1000^th review today, I thought it appropriate to use one of the first that caught my attention.

 

The distillery has an interesting, if not convoluted, history.

 

Chivas Bros. states that it was founded in 1786, but that’s not wholly accurate. The Strathisla Distillery, located in the Speyside region, is Scotland's oldest operating Highland distillery.

 

Wait… didn’t you just contradict yourself? No. Speyside was officially carved out of the Highland region in 2009 when the borders were finalized and recognized by the Scotch Whisky Association. So, by default, Strathlisla would be the oldest operating Highland distillery and the oldest Speyside!

 

It wasn’t until 1801 that John Forrest founded a grocery, wine, and spirits merchant company in Aberdeen. He passed away, and in 1828, William Edwards purchased it. James Chivas became Edward’s business partner ten years later, while his brother, John Chivas, worked at a clothing and shoes wholesaler called DL Shires and Co.   

Edwards passed away in 1841, and Charles Stewart stepped in as James’ partner. Just two years later, Queen Victoria issued a royal warrant to supply her with goods, and in 1850, were made the Royal Grocer to the Queen’s mother. This warrant was a huge business boost for James and Charles, as the wealthy wanted to shop where the Queen shopped. In 1860, DL Shires acquired the rights to the name Chivas Bros., and it remains so today.

 

Chivas Bros. changed hands several times, and in 1909, under the guidance of company director Charles Howard, it introduced a high-end luxury blended whisky called Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old. It was an instant success and became a favorite of the world’s upper class. Then, World War I broke out, and as most of its shipping routes to the United States were in danger, in 1914, Chivas Bros. decided to keep things local. Next, Prohibition hit, which decimated the Scotch whisky market. Yet, Chivas Bros. remained in operation.

 

In 1939, World War II broke out, and the new owners, whisky brokers Stanley P. Morrison and R.D. Lundie, launched a 12-year-old version of Chivas Bros. for the American market to help it retain what stocks it had left while it built up more inventory. Chivas Bros. was in financial trouble, and Seagram acquired it in 1949. In 1950, Seagram purchased the Milton Distillery and renamed it Strathisla. Strathisla produces the major malt component of Chivas Bros. whiskies; hence, the brand refers to its founding in 1786. It was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2001 and is its current owner.

 

And that brings us full circle to today’s review. Chivas Regal 12-Year is a blended Scotch made from malt and grain whiskies. The youngest component of whisky is at least 12 years old, hence the age statement. That aging occurred in both ex-Bourbon and former Sherry casks. I would assume that a majority of them are American oak. It is packaged at 40% ABV (80°) and is offered in many bottle sizes. A 750ml runs about $35.00 and is the 5^th best-selling Scotch worldwide.

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste what it is all about. For what it is worth, I have no memory of its tasting notes.

 

Appearance: I drank this whisky neat from a Glencairn glass. The liquid inside was bright gold, forming a thick rim and fast, husky tears.

 

Nose: The aroma smelled of old leather, chocolate, honey, lemon oil, and butterscotch. Inhaling the vapor through my lips brought orange rind and a touch of honey.

 

Palate: Chivas Regal’s mouthfeel was thin-bodied and on the watery side. I tasted lemon zest and baked apples on the front. The middle offered bold oak spice (again reaffirming my suspicion of more Bourbon barrels and fewer Sherry casks); the back included white pepper and leather flavors.

 

Finish: The finish included plenty of white pepper, along with baked apples, caramel, milk chocolate, nougat, lemon zest, and butter. It clocked in at only 47 seconds, making it very short.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: While Chivas Regal is an affordable blended Scotch, it performs a step or two above that. I don’t recall it being as spicy as I found it today, and I can’t imagine that it was something I enjoyed when I was relatively new to Scotch. Nowadays, I appreciate spice notes.

 

The finish was way too short, and that bugged me because it was otherwise attractive. At the same time, I can well imagine that as a less-experienced whisky drinker, the duration wasn’t off-putting. I also found the watery texture distracting.

 

I have a few thoughts regarding my rating. First, if you’re newer to Scotch and want to try an age-stated whisky, I think you’ll do fine with Chivas Regal 12 Year. A few things are lacking for those who are serious Scotch drinkers. I’m unsure how to approach this, so I’m giving it my Bar recommendation. Cheers!

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.