The Bottom Line
Beyond the normal tasting of the Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Gold Signature Scotch, I was asked to compare it to another blended whiskey, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label which sells for three times the price.
Pros
- Rich, hearty blended scotch that is great for sipping over ice.
- At $50 a bottle, it's a decent price for premium whisky.
- Readily available.
Cons
- None
Description
- 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
- Distilled by Chivas Brothers in Aberdeen, Scotland
- Master Blender Colin Scott
- Imported by Pernod Ricard USA
- Retails for around $55 per 750mL bottle
- 40% alc./volume (80 proof)
Guide Review - Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky
The profiles of the two Scotches are completely different - with Chivas being "bolder, sweeter, and with notes of charcoal" and Johnnie Walker Blue being "oakier, softer, and with notes of hay" - and I think which is better is subjective to individual taste. Personally I enjoy a very bold Scotch most of the time so my preference would lean toward Chivas, though I really enjoy Johnnie Walker Blue it can be too light for me, especially when the ice melts. It would depend on what mood I'm in at the moment as to which I choose - I see Chivas being a year round Scotch and Johnnie Walker Blue a summer Scotch. I also did a comparison with Johnnie Walker Black and that is a closer match to Chivas 18 in terms of that bold side of scotch - again, I'm preferring Chivas though.
Yet another consideration is the price. There is an appreciation for Scotches at the over $100 price point, but for the average person it is a luxury. So it was interesting to put two at the ends of the premium spectrum together to find out what you're really missing if you don't spend that extra $100. Beyond a subtle smoothness found in the Johnnie Walker and a completely different flavor profile, the money is well spent either way. Again, Scotch, and whiskey in general, are so subjective to taste that each person should follow their own preferences.
Tasting Notes:
Chivas Regal 18 year old is a rich amber color, that of red wheat, and it opens with the aroma of sweet citrus, apple and a slight amount of oak. The velvet palate is filled with caramel and peat with warm, burnt orange notes. It finishes very dry and slightly spicy with a satisfying smoke at the back.
