Dewar’s Debuts A New Port Cask Finished Blended Scotch Whisky

by Hannah Kanik
February 19, 2021

Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, a popular blended Scotch label owned by Bacardi, recently announced the launch of Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth — an 8-year-old Portuguese port cask finish that is said to combine the flavors of Portugal and Scotland. This is the third iteration in the brand’s Cask-Finished Innovation Series to commemorate its 75th-anniversary this year, and comes after the launches of Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Finish and Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish.

Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth, the brand noted of it, features flavor notes of freshly sliced ripe apricots, honeydew melon, red cherries and black currants drizzled with heather honey – all enveloped in rich creamy notes of vanilla.

“The whisky category has a certain mythology of its own, replete with traditional conventions. We created the Dewar’s cask-finished series to break the mold and evolve those traditions by bringing two product elaboration cultures together – in this case from Scotland and Portugal – to create something richer,” said Brian Cox, Vice President, Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, North America, in a prepared statement.

Cox noted as well the Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth was driven by curiosity and the company hope that Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth will inspire people to discover a new whisky. “It is about enjoyment, not rules, and through this we are certain that this great whisky will challenge some preconceived notions of what standard blended scotch whisky is about.”

“With its full bodied yet refined mouthfeel and unique flavor profile – which features subtle notes of stone fruits, dark red fruits and honey – Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth is designed to be a veritable celebration of the two cultures of Scotland and Portugal. Thanks to a unique production process where the 8-year-old scotch is double aged for extra smoothness and then finished in casks that previously held fine ruby port wines, Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth has a satisfyingly unusual, yet super smooth, taste that is ideally enjoyed anyway you like – be it neat, on the rocks, in a highball or as a great alternative to beer and wine for food pairings. It’s really about your mood, time, place and company – be it in person or remotely,” added Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for Dewar’s.

Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth 8-year-old port cask finish is available in a 750ML bottle for around $22 and is retailing in all fine wine & spirits retailers nationwide. Examples of cocktails this whisky is friendly with are presented below from the brand.

DEWAR’S PORTUGUESE SMOOTH SIGNATURE SERVE: SPICED TONIC HIGHBALL

Ingredients:
2oz Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth
Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic