As someone who’s more known for championing the cause of single malt, it’s very rare for me to pour myself a blended whisky, let alone to then sit down and ponder it for half an hour or so. It’s even rarer for me to subsequently then make some tasting notes and to give a blend a write up. But, sometimes, you just can’t turn your back on a good whisky…
The good folks at Chivas Brothers have put together a new expression in their Chivas Regal range, going by the simple name of “Extra”. It doesn’t have an age statement but, price-wise at RRP $73, it sits between the Chivas Regal 12 and Chivas Regal 18 expressions. Flavour-wise, to my palate, I rate it considerably higher than the 18yo expression, but that’s obviously a very subjective observation.
I’m a big fan of Chivas Brothers and what they do in the industry. From the production guys who are at the coal face at the washbacks and stills, to the tour guides that lead their devoted fans around the distilleries, to the marketing guys who are on the frontline of sales, Chivas is a company I’ve enjoyed collaborating with over the years. And, on the single malt front, I have a special place in my heart for the likes of Glenlivet, Aberlour, Strathisla, and Longmorn. But to be fair and honest, Chivas Regal 12yo is a whisky I’ve struggled to warm to. Chivas Regal Extra, on the other hand, is one that I’m extremely happy to embrace.
Extra is the first new regular Chivas Regal expression in the duty paid stream since the launch of Chivas Regal 25 in 2007. So what makes this blend different from its stablemates and stand out from the pack? The answer lies in the more pronounced use of ex-sherry casks. In any blend, the contributing malts will have been matured in a mix of both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, although the ratio is usually very much in favour of the former. In the case of Chivas Regal Extra, a higher proportion of the contributing component whiskies have come from ex-sherry casks, and the proof is in the pudding: This is a whisky where the sweetness, dried fruits, and spice notes are very much to the fore, and you can taste the sherry influence, rather than having to imagine it.
The whisky has been bottled at 40% ABV and strikes a good balance of spirit, oak, depth, and body. Whisky & Wisdom’s tasting notes for this were as follows:
Chivas Regal Extra, NAS, 40% ABV
Nose: Quince paste; red currants; a wee hint of cordite; and marzipan. There is, arguably, the tiniest hint of smoke. Fruit peel mix sits comfortably in the foreground. With time, some nice confectionery notes emerge that strike a happy balance between wine gums and fudge.
Palate: Soft, rich and well-rounded, with delicate spice and a nice mead-like sweetness and texture. It has a pleasing depth and warmth – noticeably a step above its 12yo stablemate. Being a well-concocted blend, things are well balanced, and there are no aggressive flavour spikes or outliers.
Finish: Soft fino sherry and light caramel sauce.
Comments: What I really love about this blend (apart from its great balance and flavour) is that the sherry influence is apparent, without ever becoming dominant or overshadowing the whisky. No, it’s not like drinking a Glenfarclas or a Glendronach, but that’s precisely the point and why this dram appeals: It offers hints and excerpts of those sherry-dominant malts, whilst still providing vanilla & caramel notes from the component grain whiskies, and a hint of smoke from – presumably – a contributing Islay malt.
Colin Scott, the Master Blender for Chivas Regal, recently paid a visit to Australia to share his side of the story behind the whisky. You can read more about his visit and thoughts here.
Cheers,
AD
