Scottish Whisky

Dewar’s 12-Year-Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website

We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky, has unveiled the new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky. With a new look and feel, DEWAR’S 12-year-old has been taken to the next level with a whisky that balances complexity, flavor and smoothness.

Double-aging the whisky in hand-selected, first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks for the first time has created a distinctly different experience for drinkers, with a greater breadth and depth of flavor, and a radically richer mouthfeel. The new whisky builds upon the renowned DEWAR’S house style of floral, honeyed Highland whisky, with a hint of smoke.

Showcasing up to 40 of Scotland’s finest single malt and grain whiskies, the new liquid was created by DEWAR’S Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, who was recently awarded Master Blender of the Year for the fourth time by the International Whisky Competition. Stephanie Macleod comments: “Curiosity has been at the cornerstone of the DEWAR’s brand since John Dewar created the first whisky in 1846. And that sense of curiosity has carried through to how my teams and I develop our whiskies today. It was only natural to experiment and craft a new element to the maturation process, which has resulted in a distinctly different tasting experience.”

“Having been experimenting with the influence of cask types on flavor and texture for the last ten years, we knew the time was right to bring some of what we have learnt to our core range of whiskies. We wanted to take DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old to the next level and bring the joys of quality Scotch whisky to a new generation of drinkers. DEWAR’S whiskies have a characteristic floral and honeyed-style and we knew we could add a richer and more complex dimension through the use of first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks.”

Macleod has created a more complex whisky: an aroma of apple, ripe peaches and hints of lemon zest; followed by floral, spice and rich fruit notes; with a robust finish of vanilla, butterscotch and a wisp of a smoke. Complementing the flavor notes is the richer, smoother and more balanced mouthfeel, creating an experience that will delight new and existing whisky drinkers alike.

Brian Cox, Vice President, DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky, North America commented: “The beauty of our Scotch whisky is the ability to bring the breadth of flavor – as well as the depth of flavor – from the variety of single malts and grains that we use to make it. This new expression of DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old is the epitome of what a high quality, pleasurable and indulgent Scotch whisky can be. Reimagining and relaunching this whisky has always been about one thing: delighting whisk(e)y drinkers. Whether you are a connoisseur looking to discover something new or are just seeking to share and enjoy with friends and family, we are certain that everyone will find something to savor and relish.”

All DEWAR’S whiskies share one thing in common – they are double aged for extra smoothness, a maturation process specific to DEWAR’s that was perfected by the first Master Blender, AJ Cameron. 2022 marks the 125th anniversary since AJ Cameron became the first Master Blender in 1897.

The new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is presented in a new, premium clear glass bottle with a modified base, label and enclosure.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, dried fruit notes of mango, pineapple and peaches; hint of orange and baked apple, vanilla, nutmeg and a bit of butterscotch with a faint note of smoke.
Palate:  Round and slightly oily mouthfeel, fruity with pears, peaches and apples, bit of nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and thick, with applesauce, sherried dark fruit and honey.
Comments:  I can’t recall the last time I tried Dewar’s 12 Year Old, so I can’t compare this new release to that. But I know I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I do this or I’d have had a bottle around the house! This has a lot going on, and is very well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel – things I don’t often get with a 40% ABV pour. I can’t think of another Scotch (blended or otherwise) at this price point that I enjoy as much. Kudos to the blender and team on a really nice whisky!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Dewar’s 8 Year Old French Cask Smooth
Apple Brandy Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$24.99
Website

We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dewar’s French Smooth, debuting in October 2022, is a result of finishing the brand’s signature 8-year-old, double-aged blend in Apple Brandy Calvados casks from the orchards of Normandy, France. The unexpectedly decadent Dewar’s French Smooth utilizes the oak that creates the traditional Calvados cider to enhance the sweetness of the liquid to develop a delicious blend between baked apples, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Given this unique characteristic, the notes on the nose create a complex yet sweet smell with a honeyed sweetness and a dusting of crème anglaise.

Thanks to the crisp taste of the apples, the finished product becomes a perfect study of balance, creaminess, and the encapsulation of the best of France & Scotland coming together while providing a modest price point for the supremely smooth liquid.

Perfectly paired with apple picking season, this liquid embodies the essence of the fall and encaptures that warm cozy feeling. If you’re looking for festive cocktails, look no further than the Dewar’s Apple Nouvelle Cocktail and the Dewar’s Apple Cinnamon Highball. With hints of apple and citrus, these drinks truly transport you to the orchards of Normandy.

The Apple Nouvelle Cocktail: A sparkling tipple bursting with French finesse, bringing the orchard flavor of Calvados to life with sweet floral elderflower, fresh apples, and sparkling French bubbles. Santé

Ingredients
1oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz St Germain
1oz cloudy apple juice
chilled soda water
French sparkling wine

Method: Add whisky, St Germain, and apple juice to a cocktail shaker and shake hard with cubed ice, then double strain into chilled coupette glass, and top with a small dash of soda, then sparkling wine.

Apple Cinnamon Highball: Bursting with green orchard fruits and sweet spices, a fruity, zesty, and refreshing highball.

Ingredients
1.5oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz lemon juice
0.5oz cinnamon syrup
1oz cloudy apple juice
3oz soda water

Method: Add whisky, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, and apple juice to a highball glass, then fill the glass with cubed ice. Top with soda, stir from the bottom up and garnish with an apple slice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malt, fruity with apples, pears, subtle cinnamon, tangerines and a grassy, heather note.
Palate:  Sweet with honey, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of graham cracker with a light citrus note.
Finish:  Moderately long with cinnamon baked apples.
Comments: Wow! This is dangerously drinkable, and delicious. It is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum, but I love the Calvados finish on this, and as I’m trying this the first week of fall – it is striking all of the right seasonal notes. Really appreciate the screw cap enclosure. At first I thought maybe it was just the right pour at the right time, but in revisiting this a few more times – it is just a really delightful dram. I wish it was bottled higher than 40% (and as such, I wouldn’t bother with any water, although I did try a few drops which didn’t wreck it). I’ve only tried the Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth and Caribbean Smooth, but I liked this significantly more than both of those.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try