Dewar's Double Double 21 Year

Dewar’s has always been a go-to at the end-of-year office party for me. I’d join my colleagues at the open bar, and the venue would typically have Jameson, Jack Daniels Black Label, or Dewar’s White Label available. Sometimes I’d choose Jameson. I’d avoid Jack Daniels, even when I was younger and less discerning, but most of the time, I still order Dewar’s on the rocks. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it sounds smoother than "Jameson on the rocks," making my order faster. Plus, of the blended Scotches without an age statement, I’ve never disliked Dewar’s. It’s superior to Johnnie Walker Red, cheaper than Chivas (which, I recall, is 12 years old), and compared to Cutty Sark, well, Cutty Sark has always seemed offensively medicinal, like lemon menthol cough drops. Honestly, if you let the ice melt in nearly any Scotch, you can drink it while listening to office gossip and making sarcastic remarks about the latest pointless HR initiatives. I haven’t bought White Label for my home bar in over ten years, even for mixing. Last year, I purchased a bottle of Dewar’s 12 Year for $22, and despite the low community rating, I really liked it, especially for the price. In mid-2019, I saw this Dewar’s Double Double 21 at my local liquor store. The packaging was attractive, and the bottle looked fancy. It was tempting, and I almost bought it until I realized it was only 375 ml. It’s not that 375 ml of a 21-year-old spirit for $50 isn’t appealing. Most 21-year-old single malts are more expensive than I’m willing to pay. But at the time, I wanted more value. I was already compiling scores from various whisky sites and comparing them to local prices before deciding, and buying this just didn’t make sense when cheaper, better-rated whiskies were available. But I never completely forgot about it, not until it seemed like stores were sold out, and I’d missed my chance. Oh well, I figured, you can’t sample every whisky you have a mild interest in. You have to make choices. Then, Whisky Advocate named this their #2 of 2019, and I noticed a small amount had reappeared in my local stores, reigniting my interest. I try to find new and interesting whiskies each September when football season begins. As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, my dad and I watch the games together and sip whisky. So, the question was, what should we start the season with? I decided a 21-year-old Scotch would be perfect. The community reviews here might be mixed, but I wouldn’t know until I tried it myself, right? So, on Sunday the 12th, with the Eagles having a team fans knew little about and had low expectations for, my dad and I sat down on my back porch with the TV on the deck table (our post-COVID setup, allowing us to socially distance while watching outside, hoping the sunlight would kill any virus that might transmit between us). I opened the bottle and poured a little for myself, my dad, and my wife, who, while not interested in football, had helped me set up the deck and had made Blondies to go with our whisky. After tasting it, her first comment was, “Smoky.” That wasn’t the first aroma I noticed, but perhaps that’s because I frequently drink Islay Scotch, and the smoke here is mild compared to Islay, though it’s similar to the smoke from other Highland Scotches like Highland Park. What stood out to me was the honeyed sweetness of the nose. Overall, it has a solid, mouthwatering aroma, and I enjoyed a few sniffs while watching my team surprisingly drive down the field and score. The palate wasn’t quite as smooth as I anticipated for a 21-year-old Scotch, however. I can’t say I’m disappointed. It maintains the honeyed sweetness, but I suppose I wasn’t expecting the noticeable bite. It’s not so bad that I’d refuse a glass, but I’m not sure I’d buy another bottle based solely on enjoyment. Drinking this on Sunday and comparing notes with my dad, I said the palate had berries and chocolate. Tasting it now, a few days later, I’m not sure I still taste the chocolate, making me wonder if it was ever there or if it disappeared after the liquid had some air exposure. To write about a whisky knowledgeably and form a solid opinion, I need to spend time with it, taste it multiple times, and reflect on the experience over several tastings. That’s the main downside of a 375 ml bottle meant for sharing: there simply isn’t enough time to get more than a basic understanding of the spirit. My dad and I might have finished it that afternoon, but after two pours each—with the Eagles leading 15-6 at halftime—I decided to switch gears and try a 375 ml bottle of Woodford Double Oak that I had also bought out of curiosity. And while taste is subjective, I think I preferred the Woodford over this bottle of Dewar’s. Maybe it suited my preferences better, or perhaps the finish of the Woodford, with its deep toffee and butterscotch flavors (and even a hint of those Fun Dip packets I loved as a kid), was a truly memorable experience. But I’ll save that for my Woodford Double Oak review. I just thought it would be helpful to have a contrasting whisky, even if it’s completely different in character. Overall, I’m not disappointed. Dewar’s Double Double 21 is enjoyable, and I agree with the community rating of 3.75. It’s worth trying for the experience, but not a whisky to keep stocked regularly. It’s certainly more interesting than other whiskies with similar community ratings (like Writer’s Tears Copper Pot). But ultimately, if I had to choose between the two whiskies I tasted that afternoon, I’d pick Woodford Double Oak.

N: Initial thoughts: this has complexity. Deep, mature stone fruit soaked in caramel and sweet coffee (perhaps with milk?). Peach and plum are prominent. Vanilla cream blends with caramel and chocolate. A vigorous swirl reveals much more chocolate – milk chocolate, hot cocoa (again, perhaps with milk?). Then it returns to the fruit, this time tart. Following that is a creamy hard candy note that's both vanilla (more) and fruity (less). A slight hint of earthiness and maybe the smell of rain. It seems to have some generic wood notes, but they aren't fully distinct. It continues to develop: chocolate-covered orange; fleeting notes of honey, almond, and cherry; possibly a subtle hint of smoke, obscured by the chocolate; chocolate-covered flowers (is that a thing?). As stated, it's complex. P: Peach, pear, cherry. Initially warm, but not unpleasantly so – cinnamon, toasted wood, a touch of mint. Ethanol, presumably – just enough to acknowledge its presence. Vanilla, chocolate, light roast coffee, toffee, caramel. Earthy, woody, even a hint of pine. Over time, the initial fruit becomes heavy, sugary (though not overly sweet). The early cinnamon, oak, and mint persist throughout the finish. The mint becomes more pronounced. There's also dark chocolate, less intense baking spices, various wood notes (pine, a little sawdust, some funk and dampness, etc.), more coffee – now darker – and a very mild, subtle BBQ smoke note. A slight tannic bitterness emerges after about half a second pour, merging with the fruit to create a bitter fruit taste reminiscent of a hoppy beer (though much more subtle). The spice heat never becomes overwhelming but also never fades – one of the longest finishes I've encountered. This is outstanding. It's rich, potent, well-developed, has no clear flaws, and is consistently engaging – there's something new with every sip. Subjectively, this isn't my preferred flavor profile – I've enjoyed other drams more – but it's undoubtedly the finest execution of a classic blended Scotch I've experienced, and possibly the best available. Value for money is reasonable, though I wish a full bottle were offered. If I could acquire a 750ml of this for $80, I'd likely always keep it on hand. The half bottle size is charming for a single purchase but inconvenient if you simply want to have this dram readily available. Regardless, a minor quibble. This is a superb dram, deserving of its accolades and reputation. * For instance, I find some of the Compass Box blends more intriguing, but they are also more experimental (i.e., not "classic") and thus not a direct comparison.

This is at least 21 years old, non-chill filtered(!), and underwent a four-stage maturation process (including sherry casks) which, for brevity, I'll describe as noteworthy for its focus on consistency and depth of flavor. I spent approximately $65 with tax for a 375ml. Nose: Golden raisins. Kiwi. The best aspects of the initial aroma of a fine red wine. Luxurious, even the subtle smokiness at the end. It masks some honey-like dryness with herbaceous mint. When consumed neat, it opens up to light brown sugar with more exotic or vine-ripened fruit – blackcurrant jam and pleasant green tea. An enjoyable nose. It uses the sherry to create excellent depth without being overly intricate or elusively complex. The spice becomes slightly more noticeable with each return to the bottle. Palate: Dewar's characteristic honey is present but never overshadows the many excellent elements: apricot, almonds in their shells, delicate oak, abundant, delicious sherry. Unfortunately, this aspect was somewhat underwhelming. It possesses great flavors, presented wonderfully by the nose, but it doesn't offer me much in terms of profile that I couldn't find in La Santa or something considerably less expensive. The taste was good, but for the price, I'd opt for Dewar's 12 Year Old. Mouthfeel: It nearly rivals the nose for the best part. Easily the best I've encountered specifically for blends. At 46% ABV, it feels incredibly smooth, as if you're drinking air. It shifts intoxicatingly between smoky and sweet at the back of your throat as you sip. The bottle claims 'ultimate smoothness,' and they weren't exaggerating. Overall, I'm giving it 3.75 stars instead of 4 because, truthfully, I had higher expectations for the flavors. While it's not quite like drinking ginger beer, it doesn't offer a tremendous amount beyond its easy drinkability and remarkable nose.

An award-winning blend always raises suspicion, especially when the competition includes esteemed bottlings like the magnificent Hibiki 21 or a high-end Compass Box. While I appreciate blended whiskies, I'm skeptical of titles like 'Best whisky in the world,' particularly from major brands designed for mass appeal rather than discerning palates. However, I do enjoy Dewars; it's a good, reasonably priced blend. This 21-year-old expression has gained significant acclaim recently due to its awards. The label indicates maturation in four casks, primarily Oloroso Sherry. Bottled at 46% ABV, it possesses a lovely red hue. On the nose, it's quite pleasant. Notes of BBQ sauce, thick maple syrup, glazed ham, and peaches in syrup. Honey. It strongly suggests Craigellachie. Not overly complex. On the palate, it's exceptionally smooth – a term I rarely use for whisky. It's velvety and incredibly gentle. Flavors of vanilla, red fruit syrup, strawberries, maraschino cherries, and fruit spice are present. The aftertaste is elegant. Hints of hay and ginger. Very woody and dry; subsequent sips revealed notes of coffee with milk, toffee, and almond milk. Overall, this is a very good dram, but it's far too gentle and conventional for my personal whisky preferences. It's not highly complex but is remarkably easy to drink, achieving its intended goal of delivering notable elegance for those who appreciate a well-crafted spirit without extreme flavors or boldness. My score for this enjoyable spirit is 84 out of 100.

When I began this whisky adventure about a year ago, my initial inexpensive scotch was Dewars white label. It wasn't the best start, but since then, the 12, 15, 18, and even the Caribbean cask have improved my opinion. I'm eager to sample the 21, with its color resembling wine and higher alcohol content. The aroma is predictably rich, offering decadent jam-like fruit notes. The sweetness comes from the scent of dates and raisins. The grain component of this dram does emerge with some bright ethanol dominating the mid-layer, but pushing past that reveals malt and cocoa deep in the background. The initial taste has a bit of funk, which makes sense considering the number and types of casks this spirit passed through. The malt that was missing from the aroma appears here, alongside honey and baking spices. The 21 years of aging have also smoothed out any harshness, so the potential for excitement comes from the 46% ABV, which this desperately needs. So far, so good, except for a thinness that quickly dissipates all this flavor before you're done. I'm uncertain if this is due to the grain blend or the age, but it's apparent. That being said, there's not much to report on the finish, just some oaky notes and a bit of dried fruit, but not much else. It concludes far too quickly. 39 CAD for any 21-year-old is quite reasonable, and that's how I'd assess this. The flavors are good and it has a premium taste, but only for a moment before it vanishes. I don't regret purchasing it, but it's not good enough to buy again.

Is it deceptive to package a 375ml bottle in a box twice the size of most 750ml bottles? I'm not sure, but I felt shortchanged upon discovering it was only a 375ml. However, for $50, perhaps the fault lies with me. Nose - Butterscotch, chocolate, and vanilla. Taste - This truly develops in your mouth. The buttery chocolate and vanilla emerge as the alcohol coats your palate, followed by a surge of oak and vanilla spice. A fruity character begins to appear once I adjust to the dessert notes. Some dark fruit...raisins or plums, classic sherry notes, but quite subtle. Finish - Long and lingering. Primarily butterscotch, oak, and a hint of that sherry essence. I'm conflicted; I want to be upset about the small bottle, but I can't fault the incredibly high-quality whisky inside. I'm still only rating it a 2.5. There are some off notes present, even some younger whisky characteristics in a 21-year-old, but for $50, it's a worthwhile gamble if you enjoy blended Scotch, even with the small bottle size. I'm still contemplating the older expressions... I don't plan on repurchasing this, but I might have to spend $130 for the 30+ year old just to find out. Please remember that $50 was for a 375ml, making it equivalent to a $100 bottle. It's not a terrible price for a 21-year-old whisky, and for the most part, it delivers 21-year-old notes.