Company: Chivas Brothers
Distillery: Blended Whisky
Region: Scotland (blends can be from multiple regions)
Aging: 18 Years
ABV: 40% ABV
Proof: 80 Proof
Mash Bill: Blend of Single Malt and Grain Whiskeys
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $80
Chivas Regal 18 Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Golden Honey
Nose: Caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, light peat and smoke, raisin, candied fruits, apricot, green apple, cinnamon spice, anise seed, almond
Palate: Sweet caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, smoke, light peat, lovely fruit flavors, apricot, anise seed, citrus zest, a bit of oaky spice and black pepper
Finish: Medium finish with a bit of peppery spice and heat to it – full of oak, citrus, and caramel
Is Chivas Regal 18 an Approachable Whisky?
Chivas Regal 18 is a pretty approachable whisky.
While it does have a bit of spice and pepper to it, it doesn’t come off as a “hot” whisky.
The flavors in this one may be a bit bold for beginners to Scotch, but the light peat and smoke on this one is an excellent introduction to peaty and smokey Scotch Whisky.
Experienced Scotch fans will appreciate the nuance of flavors in this pour.
Is Chivas Regal 18 Complex?
Chivas Regal 18 has a few layers of flavor and depth.
On the nose, you get a ton of your traditional Scotch Whisky notes aged for 18 years in a barrel including caramel, toasted oak, and vanilla.
In addition, you get a ton of rich fruit notes, pepper, and spice.
On the palate, you get much of the same, but the spice notes are much more prominent.
Initially, you’ll still get the caramel, oak, and vanilla, but the pepper and spice come rushing in quickly.
The sip rounds out with a mellow honey, smoke, and peat followed by anise seed, apricot, and citrus zest.
The finish leans heavily toward the pepper and spice, but still leaves you with a nice fruit and caramel with hints of smoke and peat on the tail end.
What are Chivas Regal 18’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Chivas Regal 18’s strongest attribute is the subtle smoke and peat layered into the flavor profile.
When I first smelled this whisky, I had to take a double-take to confirm the levels of peat and smoke.
This would be a great introduction for people looking to sample some lightly smoked and peated Scotch Whisky.
Is Chivas Regal 18 a go-to whisky?
If Chivas Regal 18 were a little cheaper, I could see this being a go-to whisky.
It’s very easy to drink and offers a complex flavor profile that is light and refreshing on the palate.
This would be a go-to if it were a $50-60 bottle.
Is Chivas Regal 18 priced accurately to its quality?
Chivas Regal 18 delivers on its price tag, but I wouldn’t buy the bottle at $80 all that often.
I would be much more comfortable recommending this bottle if it were in the $50-$60 price range.
Conclusion for Chivas Regal 18
I do enjoy this whisky.
It has very balanced and delicious flavors.
This is one I would purchase if you’re looking for a Scotch to have on the shelf for when guests come over and are looking for something with a little smoke and peat, but aren’t quite ready for the Laphroaig and Ardbeg.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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