Dewar’s 18 Years Old True Scotch Double Aged (John Dewar & Sons Ltd.)

Dewar's 18 Years Old True Scotch Double Aged (John Dewar & Sons Ltd.) is a blended Scotch from John Dewar & Sons Ltd. It marries malt and grain whiskies, with Speyside malt such as Craigellachie for a honeyed core. The official range runs a thirteen, seventeen and twenty three year old, with rare older bottlings.

The Craigellachie within gives a gentle apple and pear note. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a tropical fruit over the meaty spirit. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. Soft orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice run through it, smooth and approachable. Pineapple, malt and a savoury wax fill the middle. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. A characterful blended Scotch.