At the 2025 Scotch Whisky Masters by The Spirits Business, some of the most exciting bottles came from the Blended – No Age Statement category. The results highlighted the range and quality now on offer in blends, from globally recognised brands to smaller, independent bottlers.
The judges awarded nine Gold Medals in this category. That included new releases from Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal, a bold debut from D’Yavol, and a cask strength entry from Turntable Spirits. Royal Salute stood out with three separate expressions winning Gold.
Below, we take a closer look at each winner. How they’re made, what they taste like, and where they fit in the current market.
Chivas Regal Extra Rum Cask Selection
Chivas Regal has long been one of the most recognisable names in blended scotch.
The Extra range gives the master blenders room to experiment with flavour by finishing a portion of the blend in non-traditional casks. The Rum Cask Selection is part of that series and offers a fresh take on the classic Chivas house style.
The whisky is based on a 13-year-old blend, although it does not carry an age statement on the bottle. A portion of the whisky is finished in Caribbean rum casks, adding a warm layer of tropical fruit and sweetness. The final whisky is bottled at 40% ABV and is available as part of Chivas’ core global range.
According to Chivas Regal’s tasting notes, the nose features aromas of “sweet mango and peach, soft banana fudge and a touch of toasted oak”. The palate offers “citrus flavours mixed with sweet apricot jam, honey, and a dusting of cinnamon”.
First released as a 13-year-old travel retail exclusive in 2020, Extra Rum Cask Selection has become a beloved expression in Chivas’s range and is particularly delicious in a tropical cocktail.
Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – The Original Reserve
The 62 Gun Salute range is the most prestigious series in the Royal Salute portfolio. It takes its name from the ceremonial 62-gun salute fired to mark significant royal occasions in the UK. In 2024, Royal Salute introduced three new bottlings under the 62 Gun Salute name, each finished or composed to highlight a particular flavour style.
The Original Reserve is the cornerstone of the range. It is a no-age-statement blend made from more than 50 rare malt and grain whiskies, many drawn from long-aged stocks. It is bottled at 43% ABV.
The nose is described as intensely sweet orange with nutty and oaky depth. The palate is rich and fruity, with notes of ripe plum and sherry, followed by a finish that is long and luxurious with hints of dark chocolate and spice.
Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – The American Oak Reserve
This release highlights the influence of American oak casks on the Royal Salute style. The blend contains more than 50 component whiskies, with a focus on those matured in fine American oak to bring out vanilla, fudge and tropical fruit notes.
On the nose, expect shortbread, blueberry muffins, and strawberry jam. The palate brings pineapple, mang,o and butterscotch, while the finish is described as long, sweet, and complex.
It is bottled at 43% ABV and was first launched in travel retail. It features a ruby-red decanter, inspired by the Black Prince’s Ruby in the Crown Jewels.
Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – The Peated Reserve
The Peated Reserve introduces a smoky twist to the traditionally unpeated Royal Salute style. This blend includes rare peated malt from the closed Caperdonich distillery, as well as other heavily matured malts and grains. Like its siblings, it is bottled at 43% ABV.
The nose opens with dark cherry, green apple, and blossom honey, supported by soft bonfire smoke. The palate combines orange zest, ginger cake, and toasted oak with a gentle thread of sweet peat smoke. The finish is warming and spiced, with notes of chocolate and brown sugar.
The bottle is presented in an emerald-green decanter, a nod to the emeralds in the Imperial State Crown.
Ballantine’s Finest
Ballantine’s Finest is one of the best-selling scotch whiskies in the world. First blended in 1910, it remains the foundation of the Ballantine’s range and continues to receive critical recognition more than a century later.
The blend includes around 40 malt and grain whiskies, with signature malts from Miltonduff and Glenburgie. It is matured mainly in American oak casks to enhance vanilla and sweetness, then bottled at 40% ABV.
According to the brand, the nose is soft and elegant, with heather honey and a touch of spice. The palate brings milk chocolate, red apple, and vanilla, with a finish that is fresh and floral.
Ballantine’s Finest is part of the permanent range and widely available worldwide. It is also incredibly affordable and accessible. You can’t really go wrong with having a bottle of Ballantine’s on your shelf.
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
Black Ruby is a new 2025 release from Johnnie Walker. It takes inspiration from Black Label but offers a bolder, fruit-forward profile aimed at modern whisky drinkers. The expression was developed under Dr. Emma Walker, the brand’s Master Blender.
Black Ruby is made using whiskies aged in bourbon barrels and in red wine casks seasoned with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry. The blend also includes malt from Roseisle distillery, known for producing a rich, sweet spirit. It is bottled at 40% ABV.
According to the brand, the nose is sweet fruit and spice. The palate has “bold tones of berries and deep honeyed sweetness” alongside “figs, plums, and maraschino cherrie.” A delicate note of smoke lingers on the finish.
This is a relatively new permanent addition to the Johnnie Walker range. It launched in early 2025 and is gradually being rolled out across global markets. A new Johnnie Walker in 2025! How lucky are we?
The Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky
The Sassenach was launched in 2019 by actor Sam Heughan, known for his role in Outlander. The name is a reference to the show, where “Sassenach” means “outsider”. The whisky is produced in small batches and has developed a strong following among both whisky fans and Heughan’s audience.
This is a high-malt blend, made using single malts aged between 9 and 12 years, combined with a 21-year-old organic single grain whisky. A portion of the blend is finished in Madeira wine casks, adding extra fruit and sweetness. It is non-chill filtered, naturally coloured, and bottled at 46% ABV.
The official notes describe citrus, apricot, and almond on the nose. The palate features honey, vanilla fudge, peac,h and butterscotch, with a warm, nutty finish.
The Sassenach is released in limited batches, with availability varying by region. Details are available at sassenachspirits.com.
D’Yavol Vortex
D’Yavol Vortex is a recent addition to the premium blended scotch category.
It was launched in 2024 by Aryan Khan, in partnership with Leti Blagoeva and Bunty Singh. The brand aims to create bold, design-led spirits with a focus on regional authenticity. Vortex is their first blended scotch release.
This is a malt-forward blend, composed of single malt and single grain whiskies from across Scotland. The blend includes components matured in sherry-seasoned casks and is bottled at 43.5% ABV.
According to the official description, the whisky opens with a rich, malty nose, showing orchard fruit, vanilla, and light peat smoke. The palate brings together malt sweetness, sherried fruit, and soft smoke, with a finish described as smooth and long, featuring spiced fruit and gentle peat.
Vortex was first released in India in mid-2024, with expansion into other markets expected.
Turntable Spirits Track 5 – Harder Better Faster Stronger
Turntable Spirits is an independent blending house founded by brothers Gordon and Alasdair Stevenson. Their concept is to reimagine Scotch blends with creativity and transparency. Each release is known as a “Track,” often inspired by music. Track 5 – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger is their first cask strength blend.
The whisky is made from four single distilleries:
- 26% Tamdhu (first-fill Oloroso sherry butt)
- 21% Dalmunach (first-fill bourbon barrels)
- 18% Mannochmore (first-fill bourbon barrels)
- 35% Girvan (split between first-fill bourbon and ex-Marsala wine casks)
This creates a blend with 65% malt content and a wide range of cask influence. It is bottled at 59.1% ABV, non-chill filtered, and natural colour.
The brand describes the nose as sticky toffee pudding and nectarines, with notes of chocolate-covered strawberries and toasted nuts. The palate shows clove spice, white pepper, roasted chestnuts, and stewed fruit. The finish includes tannins and dark chocolate.
Only around 2,000 bottles were released. It launched in 2024 through specialist retailers.
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