Whisky: Chivas Regal Blended Scotch
Producer: Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
Distillery: Strathisla Distillery
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Whisky Type: Scotch Blend
Age: 12
ABV: 40%
Aged in Cask: ex-bourbon, ex-sherry
Price Range: $
With the rise in popularity of Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Bourbon in the last twenty years is easy to dismiss Scotch Blends. There are several reasons for this shift.
- Marketers have positioned some Scotch Blends as a cheaper alternative to the glorious Scotch Single Malts. When buying a whisky to celebrate a special occasion which one would you consider? the $23 Grouse or the $100 Macallan?
- The perception of the category in the eyes of the consumer in the United States is that the quality of Scotch Blends is inferior to that of Scotch Single Malts, turning the blends into commodities. The same situation happens with Irish Whiskey.
- A generational shift is happening. Millennials are bypassing Scotch Blends and opting for Bourbon or Single Malts because Scotch Blends feel outdated. In addition, bartenders in the United States are pushing more Bourbon than ever and the category is on fire!
That said, Scotch Blends are still popular around the world. More than 90% of whisky consumption worldwide is in the form of Scotch Blends. Popular brands include Johnnie Walker, Old Parr, Black & White, Buchanan’s, etc.
Defining Scotch Single Malts and Scotch Blends
Single Malt Scotch whisky is made 100% from malted barley from one distillery, while Blended Scotch whisky is a blend of one or more single malts Scotch Whiskies with one or more single grain (whisky made with malted or unmalted grains in addition to malted barley from one distillery) Scotch whiskies.
Grain whisky tends to be lighter in flavor, while malt whisky provides the intensity. The purpose of including grain whisky in blends is to smooth the flavors and make the blend more palatable to a worldwide audience.
The Chivas Regal Brand
Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky has its home in Strathisla Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, founded in 1786 by George Taylor and Alexander Milne as Milltown Distillery.
In the 1800s, James and John Chivas worked at a high-end grocery shop in the town of Aberdeen and began blending whisky. The brothers achieve a reputation for fine food, coffee, and spices among other products.
Strathisla Distillery was always one of the local suppliers of malt whisky to the Chivas Brothers for their blends, but the Chivas Regal brand did not launch until 1909 when a 25-year-old expression became available in the United States. Chivas 12 and 18-year-old expressions also followed as part of the core range of the brand.
In 1950, the company Chivas Brothers (owned by Canadian Multinational Seagrams Distillers at the time) purchased Strathisla in order to secure this important malt in the Chivas Regal blend, and in 1951 the name of the Distillery was changed to “Strathisla”.
Pernod Ricard purchased Seagrams in 2001, and with the deal, Chivas Regal (and the Strathisla Distillery) became part of its portfolio of brands.
The Royal Warrant
In 1843 Queen Victoria awarded Chivas Brothers Scotch Whisky a Royal Warrant for providing the monarch with a whisky of her preference.
From the Royal Warrant site:
“A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a mark of recognition of those who have supplied goods or services to the Households of HM The Queen or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years, and who have an ongoing trading arrangement.”
The Royal Warrant is one of the most prestigious awards a brand of Scotch Whisky can achieve. The award can only be granted by a Monarch and requires the approval of a royal committee.
Companies can apply for a Royal Warrant after they have supplied the Households of The Queen or The Prince of Wales with goods or services for at least five years out of the past seven.
The recipient of the award has the right to proudly display the coat of arms or heraldic badge in its products with a phrase such as “By Appointment to…” followed by the title and name of the royal customer.
Other brands of Scotch Blends to hold the Royal Warrant are Buchanan’s, Johnnie Walker, Ballantine’s, and The Famous Grouse.
Tasting Notes for Chivas Regal 12 years
Chivas Regal 12 Blend was introduced in the United States in 1939 and is the flagship of the brand. The famous blend is made from several single malts, primarily Strathisla, Longmorn, and Strathclyde single grain.
Other known single malts in the Chivas Regal brand are:
Aberlour, Allt-a-Bhainne, Braeval, Dalmunach, Glen Keith, Glenburgie, Glentauchers, Glenlivet, Miltonduff, Scapa, and Tormore.
Nose: Herbal and fruity.
Palate: Fruit, vanilla, and honey.
Finish: Medium finish. Dry and fruity.
Awards:
- 2021 – INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION — SILVER
- 2020 – INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE — GOLD
- 2019 – INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT COMPETITION — SILVER
Conclusion: Chivas Regal blends have always had a significant portion of malt whisky in them creating a more robust and intense experience than other blends in the market. A very good sipper, yet underrated whisky in the southeast of the United States. Check a magnificent spring Reel on our Instagram account. You can also check my reviews on different single malt scotch whiskies. Slainte!
Score: 3.5/5 ⭐
Legend
$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$
Other Information
The Spirits Business magazine listed the best-selling Scotch in 2021 ranked by the number of 9-liter cases sold (in millions)
- Johnnie Walker (14.1)
- Ballantine’s (7)
- Grant’s (3.6)
- William Lawson’s (3.3)
- Chivas Regal (3.2)
- Black & White (2.9)
- William Peel (2.8)
- Label 5 (2.6)
- Dewar’s (2.6)
- J&B (2.3)
- White Horse (2.1)
- Bell’s (2.1)
- Passport (1.8)
- Sir Edward’s (1.8)
- Buchanan’s (1.5)
