In recent years, as the scotch whisky industry has evolved, single malts have often taken center stage. The most “luxurious” whiskies are almost always of the single malt variety.
However, amongst drinkers, there will always be a widely felt affinity for blended scotch whisky. Before the age of single malt, in the 1960s, the United Kingdom experienced a boom in the popularity of blended scotch whisky as its go-to spirit. Today, some of the best-selling whiskies in the world are blends (see Johnnie Walker).
When the single malt was on the rise, some began thinking that ‘single malt whisky is better whisky’. In reality, blended scotch whisky simply offers something different than single malts. No less complex and no less delicious.
So, in the interest of helping blended scotch whisky fans find the best expressions on the market, I thought I would run down the three blended scotches that won Double Gold Medals at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge (ISC).
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Of course, many other blends (some NAS) also won medals. Watch this space for more on the other incredible whiskies from this year’s competition.
The International Spirits Challenge 2024
The International Spirits Challenge was established in 1995. According to the competition website: “The competition is founded on a rigorous and independent judging process, which serves to encourage the high calibre of spirits, designs and campaigns entered into the competition each year.”
The competition is divided into four separate awards: Tasting, Key, Design & Packaging, and Recognition. Today, we will be focusing on the Tasting Awards.
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Whiskies are rigorously taste tested by a panel of experts with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Double Gold medals on offer.
Of 924 entries in 2024, only three blended scotch whiskies were awarded Double Gold medals. Let’s talk about them.
Chivas Regal Ultis XX Blended Scotch Whisky
Medal: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Red apples, raspberry jam, vanilla, butter toffee, blossom, honey, milk chocolate, poached pears, apricot, orange zest
BUY NOW: $129
Chivas Regal, the blended scotch whisky brand owned and operated by Chivas Brothers, clinched a Double Gold medal at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge with its 20 year old expression, Chivas Regal Ultis XX.
Ultis XX is a blend of five single malts from Strathisla, Tormore, Longmorn, Allt-a-Bhainne, and Braeval, blended with Chivas’ signature grain whisky, Strathclyde. The blend is then matured in European and American Oak casks for 2 decades.
Bottled at 40% ABV, the blended scotch whisky was created to honor the five Master Blenders who had stewardship over the brand prior to the current Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop.
Speaking about the “ultimate blend”, Sandy said: “The concentration of sweet fruity flavours is unrivalled coming from the wonderful Speyside malt whiskies.” Clearly, the judging panel at the International Spirits Challenge agreed.
Dewar’s Double Double 20 Year Old Travel Retail Exclusive
Medal: Double Gold
Tasting Notes:
BUY NOW: N/A
If you have seen the thumbnail for this article, then you will notice that we have not one, but two expressions from Dewar’s on this week’s award list. The first is the Dewar’s Double Double 20 Year Old, which was a travel retail exclusive.
Dewar’s Double Double range has made waves in the world of blended whisky since its introduction in 2020. The brainchild of six-time Master Blender of the Year, Stephanie Macleod, Double Double employs a “double ageing” process.
This process involves aging the malt whiskies for the blend separately, before blending and returning to an oak cask for a secondary aging period. The grain whisky for the blend is given the same treatment. Then, the malt and grain whiskies are married together for a time in an oak cask. And finally, the whisky undergoes a finishing period in ex-sherry casks. If you are counting, that is four separate aging processes.
The result is a deeply complex blended malt with exceptional smoothness.
Since the introduction of Dewar’s Double Double, the expressions have seen huge success with consumers and in various whisky awards such as the World Whiskies Awards in 2021. ‘Best Scotch Blended’ and ‘World’s Best Blended’ were awarded to the Double Double 21 Year Old.
The recipient of this award, the 20 year old, is extremely difficult to find – it was initially a travel retail exclusive. However, you can purchase the award-winning Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old here.
Dewar’s Double Double 36 Year Old
Medal: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Ripe peaches, coconut oil, vanilla
BUY NOW: NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA, UK Price – £1,500
Finally, the judges at the International Spirits Competition recognized the oldest blended scotch whisky currently under Dewar’s brand: The Double Double 36 Year Old.
Created using the same process as the other Double Double expressions, the 36 Year Old is a carefully structured blend of whiskies from Speyside, the Highlands, and Islay. These whiskies were aged for 36 years before being blended together and finished in Madeira casks. It is thought that the whisky in the blend is between 36 and 39 years old at the time of bottling.
The high age statement combined with the blending and cask-finishing has created a multi-layered and luxurious blend that will set you back £1,500 if you can find it in your country.
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