Whiskey Review: Dewar’s 12 Year Aged Scotch Whisky

John Dewar Sr. started his company in London in 1846, but it was his son, Tommy Dewar, who garnered attention for the Scotch whisky brand in the late 1880s. Their White Label whisky quickly became and is still a best-seller, based on Dewar’s pervasive advertising. Tommy Dewar even commissioned one of the very first advertisements on film, pre-20th century, projecting dancing men in kilts onto a building in New York City.

In fact, Dewar’s White Label is still the United States’ favorite Scotch – Americans purchase more of this whisky than any other single bottle of Scotch. The brand was more recently purchased by Bacardi in 1998, who interestingly built a museum to showcase much of the brand’s advertising, labels and other knick knacks from the early 20th century.

Dewar’s 12 Year Aged Scotch Whisky is a blend of single malt and single grain whisky and double-aged in oak and sherry barrels. Most of the grain comes from Aberfeldy, a distillery built in 1886 by John Dewar’s other industrious son, Alexander. In addition to their Dewar’s 12 Year Old, the brand also offers their famous Dewar’s White Label, and Dewar’s blends with a 15- or 18-year-old age statement.

Tasting Notes: Dewar’s 12 Year Scotch Whisky 

Vital Stats: 40% abv, aged for 12 years. Dewar’s 12 Year is a blend of several grains. Each 750ml bottle retails for around $30.

Appearance: This Scotch is a very vibrant caramel color and has quick legs.

Nose: This smells like caramel, black cherries and a chocolate milkshake. There are also light notes of orange peel, and smoke. It smells really good, but it’s not overwhelming.

Palate: Dewar’s 12 Year blend is strikingly smooth. Initially, caramel, charred oak, and smoke stand out. The flavors quickly evolve into milk chocolate, dark cherry, vanilla, and orange creamsicle and savory butter. The finish is short and smokey. When I added one regular ice cube, the flavors diluted too quickly, and left me feeling disappointed. I added more whisky and switched to my special giant round ice cube, which chilled the whisky without diluting. The whole experience is like a warm summer night at the drive-in, complete with buttered popcorn and a milkshake.