Chivas Regal has unveiled Chivas Regal 16, a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky co-created with global brand ambassador and Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc. The expression, announced on April 30, 2026, marks the first 16-year-old blend in the brand’s history and Leclerc’s debut signature whisky.
The blend brings together 16 individual whiskies, each aged a minimum of 16 years, inspired by the number that has defined Leclerc’s racing career.
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The project began when Leclerc challenged Chivas Regal master blender Sandy Hyslop to build an entirely new expression around his vision. During the creation process, Leclerc explored several whiskies and gravitated toward the sherry cask-matured Longmorn single malt for its rich complexity.
Leclerc traveled to Scotland to experience the distilling craft firsthand before selecting his preferred blend and setting the final brief: a 16-year-old whisky.
“16 has always been more than a number to me — it’s something I’ve carried my whole career,” said Charles Leclerc, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal. “Going to Scotland, seeing the distilleries, understanding the obsession behind every cask inspired me to create my own blend. Chivas Regal and I share the same belief that the standard you set today is just the starting point. I pushed Sandy to go further. He pushed me to think differently. Chivas Regal 16 felt like the natural next step in our partnership, creating something truly extraordinary together.”
Sandy Hyslop, master blender at Chivas Regal, emphasized Leclerc’s hands-on involvement. “Charles didn’t just put his name to this. He was in the room, making decisions, pushing back,” Hyslop said. “He gravitated toward the character that defines Chivas Regal: rich, layered, built with real depth. What we’ve created together is a blend that’s unmistakably his and unmistakably ours.”
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Official tasting notes from the brand describe sweet mandarin, raisins, and manuka honey on the nose, giving way to warm cinnamon and sticky toffee. The palate moves through orange marmalade and apple cake into toasted oak and ginger spice. The finish is rich, velvety, and long.
Leclerc and Hyslop appeared together in Miami ahead of the Grand Prix this weekend to showcase the whisky for the first time during an exclusive event revisiting the blending process.
Chivas Regal 16-Year-Old is available on Amazon at an RRP of $69.99 (£64).
The Miami Grand Prix takes place this weekend at the Miami International Autodrome, with lights out scheduled for 4 pm local time. Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, currently sit 3rd and 4th in the standings respectively, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell out in front.
