Chivas Regal 12 has been a fixture of back bars and home cabinets for decades, and its appeal lies not only in its affordability, but in its balance, mouthfeel, and flavors.
The official notes describe a nose of “wild herbs, heather, honey and orchard fruit,” with vanilla, hazelnut, and toffee on the palate. It is affordable and dependable. But what if you are looking to move past Chivas 12 and explore familiar flavors in different ways?
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The five whiskies below each pick up a different thread of Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, whether the honey, the apple and pear character, the sherry sweetness, or simply more age in the same house style. So, here are five whiskies to try if you love Chivas Regal 12 Year Old.
Aberfeldy 12 Year Old, around £41.50 / $40
Honey is the first note most people notice with Chivas 12, and Aberfeldy has built its whole identity around that same honeyed style. The Highland distillery supplies the backbone malt for Dewar’s blends, and its own 12 Year Old is described by the distillery as “a honeyed dram with notes of fruit, spices, lots of vanilla.”
Trending Content
The whisky is matured in sherry, bourbon, refill, and re-char casks, and it is bottled at 40% ABV, the same strength as Chivas 12, so nothing about the experience feels unfamiliar or like a step too far.
The award record is the strongest of any bottle here. Aberfeldy 12 took Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which requires a unanimous gold vote from the judging panel.
Pappy Van Winkle Prices Just Jumped Up to 30% — But They May Still Be Too Cheap
READ THE STORYAt roughly £10 more than Chivas 12 in the UK, it is the cheapest way to find out what the honey note becomes when a single distillery is behind it rather than a blend.
Compass Box Orchard House, around £45.50 / $53
Chivas Regal 12 Year Old is full of orchard fruit, and Compass Box Orchard House exists to put that character front and center. Compass Box assembles it from malts chosen for their apple and pear tendencies, and the producer’s own notes promise “crisp, bright notes of red apple and pear” ahead of shortbread and honeyed vanilla. It sits in the Compass Box core range so it is easy to get hold of.
Two things separate it from Chivas 12. It is bottled at 46% and left unchill-filtered, which gives it noticeably more weight. It is light, bright, and lively, encapsulating the citrusy notes that make Chivas 12 feel exciting.
Naked Malt, around £26.95 / $35
For anyone drawn to the toffee and dried fruit side of Chivas 12, Naked Malt goes all in on those flavors while costing less. It is a blended malt drawing on stocks reportedly including Macallan, Highland Park, and Glenrothes, finished for six months in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks that had never previously held whisky.
Expect toffee, vanilla, stewed fruit, and raisin.
The brand moved from Edrington to William Grant & Sons in July 2025, and US availability has been less consistent since. We might also expect the recipe to change, but no word on this yet. UK supply is straightforward. It is bottled at 40% in the UK and 43% in the US.
Strathisla 12 Year Old, availability limited
Strathisla is the closest thing to a direct ancestor of Chivas 12. The Keith distillery, which dates to 1786, has been owned by Chivas Brothers since 1950, and its malt sits at the center of the blend.
Long-serving master blender Colin Scott has described it as “the heart of all the Chivas Regal blends,” according to retailer listings of his notes. Tasting it alongside Chivas 12 is the clearest way to hear which parts of the blend come from where, with honeyed raisin, thick cream, sultana, and marmalade.
The catch is supply. The standard 12 Year Old is sold out at Master of Malt and absent from most other major retailers, while US listings have drifted into collector pricing. Independent bottlers, Gordon & MacPhail in particular, remain the realistic route to a bottle. Worth hunting for rather than counting on.
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, around £68.50 / $70
There is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with Chivas, but you might like to take a step up in the range.
It is no secret that we are fans of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old at The Whiskey Wash. Chivas 18 won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards in 2024, repeated it in 2025, and took Silver in 2026, alongside 93 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2023. It is good, and it is great value for money.
The whisky uses more than 20 single malts and keeps the same fruit-forward character, with pear, peach, and pineapple over creamy toffee, dark chocolate, and a light touch of smoke on the finish. Six extra years of maturation give it more depth and a longer finish without changing direction.
Anyone hoping for a dramatic departure will not find one here, since it remains a 40% blend. For a drinker who simply wants the familiar profile with more behind it, an 18-year-old Scotch for under £70 is a reasonable proposition.
Where to Start
The right bottle depends on which part of Chivas 12 a drinker keeps coming back for. Aberfeldy 12 for the honey, Orchard House for the orchard fruit, Naked Malt for sherry sweetness on a budget, Strathisla for the source of the blend, and Chivas 18 for more of the same done at greater depth. Prices run from under £27 to just under £70, so there is a starting point for most budgets.
What would you pour next after Chivas 12? Let us know in the comments
