Dewar’s 25 Years Old
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$225
Website
We would like to thank Dewar’s for sending us a sample to review.
What the Blender Says
DEWAR’S®, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky is proud to announce the launch of DEWAR’S 25 Years Old.
The new addition to the DEWAR’S portfolio will succeed DEWAR’S Signature (no-age statement) as a part of DEWAR’S dedication and commitment to age statements across its premium range of blended Scotch whiskies.
A meticulous search of the cask inventory revealed an intriguing array of fine aged malt and grain Scotch whiskies aged 25 years and older. Each cask was individually sampled and assessed by Master Blender, Stephanie MacLeod before being chosen. Once MacLeod was satisfied that she had a perfectly balanced flavour profile in the DEWAR’S House Style, the specially selected casks were blended together and then filled into oak casks for an additional period of maturation, a process pioneered by DEWAR’s, known as double-ageing, to add more depth and enriched smoothness.
During this extra period of maturation, the disparate characters of the malts and grains are allowed to interact with one another and mellow further. In an extra step unique to the new 25-year-old expression, the whisky was then filled into a set of freshly disgorged ROYAL BRACKLA® casks for an extra period of finishing.
According to MacLeod, “DEWAR’S 25 is endlessly smooth, rich and elegant. Awakened on the palate: the sophisticated whisky is glorious in its harmony and balance, gently revealing layers of rich fruit, floral notes and delicate honey, with a hint of smoke to finish.”
Fraser Campbell, Global Ambassador for DEWAR’S comments “Disclosing the ages of our blends allows discerning whisky drinkers to choose an expression with a maturity and flavour profile that matches their own character preferences. DEWAR’S remains committed to age statements as a sign of craftsmanship and quality. In a world where aged stock is increasingly rare, we are proud to display an age on the front of our bottles”.
The age statements that DEWAR’S proudly proclaim on its bottles are not merely numbers; they’re a guarantee of the age of the youngest whisky found within the blend. Each bottle’s age statement is an assurance that it holds an authentic and precious piece of time-honoured taste.
According to the latest reports from the IWSR, DEWAR’S is the fastest growing premium blended Scotch in the world, defying current global Scotch trends. DEWAR’S is also the world’s most awarded blended Scotch with medals for quality, taste and innovation to-date. Adding to the vast list of awards to support this, DEWAR’S 18 Years Old has been crowned best blended Scotch (under 21 years) at the International Spirits Challenge 2017.
DEWAR’S 25 Years Old is bottled at 40% ABV and priced at $225. The new expression will be available from October 2017 in Global Travel Retail followed by a gradual roll-out into key domestic markets.
What Gary Says
Nose: Musty sweetness with a little sea brine, smoke, sherry, and honey candy.
Palate: Thin mouthfeel, not very sweet or spicy; subtle sherried fruit with a bit of oak and honey.
Finish: Moderately long, drying slightly, flavor steps up nicely.
Comments: I know there are whisky snobs who look down on blends, and I want to go on the record as clarifying that I am NOT one of them. Some of my favorite whiskies are blends with older stock. For a 25 year old blended whisky, I expect more complexity than this deliver. While certainly the best Dewar’s branded offering I’ve tried, this just isn’t in my wheelhouse. Their standard offering isn’t either, so if you are a fan of Dewar’s, this could be right up your alley – although at this price, I would seek an opportunity to try it first.
Rating: Average
What Richard Says
Nose: Grassy, floral, butterscotch candies, and a dollop of sherry.
Palate: A gentle richness glides over the palate, with bits of raisin, wildflower honey, baked fruits, and just a little bit of dark chocolate.
Finish: This finishes a bit dry with an oak forward ending.
Comments: A nice enough whisky for sure but not a stunner. To me, whiskies need a raison d’etre to push age into the twenties. I find this especially true for a blend. Macallan is a great example of that. For their sherried malts I find little to no need to move beyond the 18 year. Just not much more bang for the buck so to speak. Blends really need this more than single malts because it doesn’t have to be 1 to 3 casks at 25 years, rather it needs to be all the malt and grain components. Otherwise, the blender just seems to be capitalizing on the surge toward premiumization and trying to cash in. No offense meant to the fine whisky craftsmen at Dewars but this example seems to fall in that latter camp. Don’t get me wrong, this is a fine whisky. But I can’t say that you need to seek this out as an amazing example of blended scotch that should be experienced by all.