Looking around my whisky room, I was in the mood for an uncomplicated side-by-side comparison. Since both whiskies are available in Mauritius, I tried this comparison: Dewar’s White Label vs Famous Grouse blended whisky.
Tag: Bacardi Limited Page 1 of 2
Bacardi Limited is one of the largest privately held, family-owned spirits companies in the world. Brands include:
Gin: Bombay.
Rum: Bacardi.
Tequila: Cazadores.
Vodka: Grey Goose, Eristoff.
Whisk(e)y: Dewar’s, William Lawson’s, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla and Craigellachie
Today, I’m diving into the Aultmore 18 year old Foggie Moss single malt Scotch whisky. What immediately captures my attention is the enchanting name of their single malt collection: Foggy Moss. Just mentioning it conjures a vivid image – a hauntingly beautiful scene of fog weaving through the corridors of a moss-draped, long-forgotten castle nestled on the misty moors.
As it turns out, my imagination is pretty close to the mark. Aultmore Distillery is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Speyside region, specifically in Banffshire. This location often finds itself veiled in a dense, mysterious fog, which only adds to the allure of this remarkable distillery.
Aultmore’s story dates back to 1895, when Alexander Edward founded it. At just 25 years old, he joined forces with Peter Mackie to acquire his father’s land. There he establish the renowned Craigellachie distillery.
A few years later, upon his return from an extensive international sojourn, Alexander Edward commissioned the construction of Aultmore Distillery.
The word “Aultmore” originates in the Gaelic term “A t-Allt Mor,” roughly translating to ‘big burn.’ Here, the ‘burn’ refers to the Burn of Auchinderran, the pristine water source for the distillery.
Over the years, Aultmore changed hands, transitioning from John Dewars to Distiller Company and eventually to Scottish Malt Distillers. In 1998, the distillery found its way back to Dewars, a subsidiary of Bacardi.
Interestingly, the bulk of Aultmore’s spirit has traditionally been utilized in blends. The Aultmore 12 year old whisky was released in 2014, followed by the Aultmore 18 year old single malt whisky in 2015.
Notably, a range of independent bottlings of Aultmore exists for enthusiasts seeking distinct expressions of this fine Speyside whisky. The Aultmore 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky undergoes maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and refill sherry casks.
Also Read: Craigellachie 13 yo Whisky
Aultmore 18 year old Whisky Review
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Old gold
NOSE: Delightful scents of fresh orchard fruit kissed by the morning sun, interwoven with nuances reminiscent of freshly baked Pasteis de Nata and the subtle embrace of sherry. Hints of lemon blossom, meadows swaying with tall grasses, and a gentle oak note greet the senses. In the background, there’s a whisper of light spice and a touch of cherries, all elegantly balanced.
PALATE: The first sip is akin to biting into a succulent, fresh peach dusted with vanilla sugar. This is accompanied by playful notes of lemon drops and a touch of greenery. As the journey continues, subtle sherry undertones merge seamlessly with the warm embrace of freshly baked biscuits and a gentle hint of oak.
A subtle nutty maltiness and a dash of pepper on the palate. Adding a few drops of water softens the slight alcohol heat. It brings forth the green notes, creating a complex and utterly delightful experience.
FINISH: The finish lingers for a medium duration, leaving notes of malt, oak, and a gentle kiss of lemon pepper.
RATING: EXCELLENT
What a delectable Speyside dram! Its oily mouthfeel gracefully carries a symphony of flavours. While it boasts complexity, it remains wonderfully approachable. Personally, I prefer it without water, savouring its natural essence.
After this enchanting encounter with the Aultmore 18 year old Scotch, I’m eager to embark on a quest to explore more from this Speyside distillery. It promises to be a journey filled with rich, flavours and stories from this historic distillery shrouded in the mystique of Foggy Moss.
Also Read: Inchmurrin 18 yo Whisky
During my latest shopping expedition, I looked for something wallet-friendly and novel. This led me to seize a bottle of Dewar’s White Label blended Scotch whisky. Given my adoration for Dewar’s 12 year old and 15 year old expressions, adding the White Label to my collection was as instinctive as it was irresistible.
Dewar’s, a respected Scottish whisky brand, takes pride in its membership within the Bacardi lineage. It is also one of the top Scottish whiskies sold in the USA.
Bacardi owns five whisky distilleries nestled in the heart of Scotland’s landscape:
- Aberfeldy
- Aultmore
- Macduff
- Royal Brackla
- Craigellachie
But let’s zero in on the star of this blog post – Dewar’s White Label whisky. The brand was created back in 1899 by the visionary hands of A.J. Cameron, the first Master Blender of John Dewar & Son’s legacy.
Dewar’s White Label whisky is a harmonious blend, uniting around 40 distinct malt and grain whiskies, Aberfeldy at its core. After blending, the whisky returns to oak casks for a further period. This additional maturation serves to create a smooth and seamlessly integrated flavour profile.
White Label Scotch is a NAS release and is available worldwide. I picked this bottle up in Mauritius for around Rs1300.
Dewar’s White Label Blended Scotch Whisky Review
ABV: 40%
COLOUR: Light gold
NOSE: Honey with orchard fruit and cereal. Bits of sun-ripened lemon and peach.
PALATE: Honey and mild chili. Cereal with oak, vanilla, and floral notes. In the background, there are fresh orchard fruits with grass and floral notes. Medium body and not the most complex. Water increases the chili heat a bit and brings forward more lemon rind. Sooth and uncomplicated.
FINISH: Short with honey sweetness and lemon drops.
RATING: VERY GOOD
The Dewar’s White Label is an entryway into Dewar’s world of blended Scotch whisky. A canvas adorned with the fruity and honeyed brushstrokes that hallmark Dewar’s creations.
As one traverses the Dewar’s spectrum, the voyage from the White Label to the 12 year old or the 15 year old expressions sees these familiar flavours transform into a more intricate tapestry.
John found the White Label a tad one-dimensional. However, I liked it and found it unpretentious and perfect for a leisurely afternoon Highball cocktail.
An accessible starting point for a deeper exploration of Dewar’s artistry. To further understand the nuances of this dram, I have done a side by side comparison between the Dewar’s White Label and the Famous Grouse whisky to see how they compare.
Also Read: Dunville’s PX Cask 12 yo Whiskey
I am always looking for exciting whisky at a reasonable price. Call it the frugal Dutch side of me, but I don’t think expensive necessarily equals good. These last couple of years, I have managed to find great blends and single malt whiskies at affordable prices. Whiskies that you can buy 2 or 3 bottles of and not survive on dry bread for the rest of the month.
I publish my top 5 affordable single malt and blends list yearly. This year, however, has been a challenge. I am over the halfway mark, and I have not found too many delicious “new” affordable drams. My top 5 list was looking a bit bare.
That was until I tasted something at the Wade Bales whisky show. I tasted the Dewar’s 12 year old blended Scotch whisky, and immediately my Top 5 list started looking better.
Also Read: The Black Grouse Whisky
It is not a very well known brand in SA, so I went to investigate. The Dewar’s brand was established in 1846 by a wine and spirit merchant, John Dewar in Perth Scotland. John blended his own whisky and bottled it under his name. John’s two sons joined the business and in 1884 expansion started on the London market, and soon after, America beckoned.
Even President Benjamin Harrison was a fan. The Dewar brothers expanded their portfolio by building the Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896, and the brand went from strength to strength. Today the John Dewar’s & Sons company owns four other distilleries. The distilleries include Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff and Royal Bracka.
Bacardi owns John Dewar’s & Sons and other releases in the Dewar’s stable include the Dewar’s White Label and a Dewar’s 18 year old. The Dewar’s 12 year old is double aged as the whisky is married in oak casks after the initial maturation and blending.
Dewar’s 12 year old Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
COLOUR: Golden sun-kissed wheat
NOSE: Delicate and sweet with tropical and sweet oak spices. Bananas and pineapple balanced with malts and honey. There are hints of cut flowers and bits of cinnamon.
PALATE: The Dewar’s 12 year old Scotch is light and fruity. Honey sweetness mixed with ripe summer fruits, oak and malt. It is smooth and easy drinking with a medium body. You barely need to add any water; just a few drops to release more sweetness and complexity.
FINISH: Ends on notes of honey, malt and black pepper.
RATING: EXCELLENT
What a beautiful blend! Light and floral, this Dewar‘s 12 year old blended whisky is perfect for someone who wants to try whisky for the first time. It is a delicious summer dram to enjoy during the hot summer.
This bottle will not last long, and at the price point, replacing the bottle is not a problem. This blend retails for around R300 in South Africa. It is cheaper than the Johnnie Walker Black.
This Dewar’s 12 year old whisky is worthy of a taste. I managed to get my hands on the Dewar’s 15 year old and loved it just as much.
Also Read: Chivas Regal 12 yo whisky
Towards the end of last year, I wrote about a great whisky I tasted at The Only Whisky Show. The Dewar’s 12 year old blended whisky made quite an impression on me. I went straight out to buy a bottle. Delicious and affordable, this excellent blend quickly made it onto my Top 5 Blends for 2017 list.
Fast forward a couple of months. A week or two before the Whisky and Spirit Show in Sandton in November, a very curious package arrived. A small box with an egg inside. Inside the egg was a message I could only get to if I break the eggshell.
The message was an invitation to join Dewar’s at their Whisky Live stand to taste more Dewar’s whisky paired with some Scotch Eggs.
The first dram I tasted that evening at the Scotch Egg evening at Whisky Live was the Dewar’s 15 year old blended Scotch whisky. I tried it with Scotch Eggs (it nice), nuts (tasty) and dark chocolate (delicious). I walked straight to the Norman Goodfellows shop at Whisky Live and bought a bottle. It was that good.
Dewar’s 15 year old whisky was created by Dewar’s master blender Stephanie Macleod and introduced in 2010. Initially targeted at the Asian market and travel retail, the Dewar’s 15 year old is now more widely available.
The Dewar’s 15 year old is known as “The Monarch”. The inspiration for the blend came from a famous Sir Edwin Landseer oil painting known as “The Monarch of the Glen”.
This famous painting was purchased by John Dewar & Sons in 1919 and is currently owned by the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is a beautiful Royal Stag.
The Monarch is one of only a few blended whiskies to carry a 15 year age statement. It is created from selected single malts and single grains, across both sherry and bourbon barrel ageing. The blend is then married in select oak casks for an additional period. The Dewar’s brand is part of the Bacardi stable.
Also Read: Dimple Pinch 15 yo Whisky
Dewar’s 15 year old Whisky Review
The Dewar’s 15 year old Scotch whisky has a raised relief design on the glass. The simplistic black and gold labelling add to the premium feel of this dram.
ABV: 43%
COLOUR: Bright gold
NOSE: Sherry, fresh fruit salad with apples, melons and pears, honey, fresh flowers, hints of spices and fresh meadow flowers. Rich and quite complex with hints of vanilla and butterscotch grape jam mixed with oak.
PALATE: Rich, sweet nicely balanced with oak spices, orange peel, wood, and vanilla. Enough pepper notes to give a bit of a bite, but well balanced enough not to overwhelm the sweeter notes. Fresh fruit, hot pancake with cinnamon sugar.
You don’t even have to add water. Hints of lemon sorbet and freshly cut wood. Water softens the dram slightly and makes it very easy drinking.
FINISH: A bit short and dry, but pleasant. The Dewar’s 15 year old ends in notes of pepper and fruity sweetness.
RATING: EXCELLENT
This 15 year old reminds me a bit of the Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky . It has that same sweet richness that the Glenfiddich has. However, looking at the price point of this blend, it is real value for money! For a 15 year old whisky! It is so easy drinking and enjoyable. It also has a rich complexity underlying the well-balanced fruit and spicy notes.
I paired this blended whisky with some Swiss Appenzeller cheese. You can see what I thought about the pairing by following the link. The Dewar’s 15 year old whisky retails for only R 450 in South Africa. It will definitely make it onto my Top 5 blend list for 2018.
Also Read: Singleton 15 yo Whisky