Dewar’s 12 Year
Whisky: Dewar’s 12 Year
Country/Region: Scotland/Blend
ABV: 40%
Cask: Oak
Age: 12 Years
Nose: Orchard fruits, gentle oak, white flowers, malty pastries, pie crust, honey, baking spices, hints of citrus.
Palate: Light-bodied with honey, pastries, nuts, brown sugar, orchard fruits, hints of maple.
Finish: Medium-length and mild with grassy sugars, dandelions, honey, and maple scones.
Score: 4-5 (74)
Mental Image: Orchard House Gift Shop
Narrative & Notes: It was summer at the orchard house as the aroma bloomed with crisp apples, white flowers, and malty pastry crust. Honey with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg went into a bowl of chopped apples dressed with brown sugar, lemon zest, and butter— it was pie time. Light-bodied, the flavor profile featured a rich strand of wildflower honey with more subtle notions of walnut cakes and malty pastries. Hints of brown sugar and maple lingered with apples and chopped orchard fruits. The finish was medium-length and mild with grassy sugars, dandelions, honey, and maple scones.
Fresh, friendly, and balanced, the Dewar’s 12-Year is a massive step up from the White Label. That non-age statement blend is clearly designed more for cocktails than anything else, while the 12 Year stood alone rather nicely— though maybe my expectations were fairly low. It was on the thin and simple side, but those are also the sort of characteristics that make it far more suitable for someone unaccustomed to high proof spirits. While I am not wild about apple and orchard fruit profiles, this had enough other elements to keep my interest.
Overall, enjoyable and better than I remember. I still prefer the Chivas 12 Year, but in a pinch, I would not turn down a pour.
