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Chivas Regal is the famous brand of blended scotch (Scotch whiskey), which has long become synonymous with luxury, nobility and unsurpassed taste. The producing company, Chivas Brothers, sells 4 million cases annually, supplying the drink to more than 200 countries on different continents. In the time it took to skim through these lines, several more bottles of Chivas were sold in the world.
History of Chivas Regal
The popular expression “if you want to do something well, do it yourself” perfectly fits the appearance of one of the best scotch tapes in the world. This is exactly what the brothers James and John Chivas did in 1801, who owned a luxury drinks and delicatessen shop on Kingstreet in Aberdeen. To expand the range, which contained Jamaican rum, French cognac, expensive coffees, exotic spices, merchants lacked only truly exquisite whiskey. The brothers took matters into their own hands: having tried many varieties from their cellar, they created their own blend of Chivas Regal, which served as the beginning of a long and glorious journey.
The word Regal – “royal” – next to the name of the founders of the brand did not appear by chance and indicates that Chivas Brothers has been supplying elite alcohol and products to the court of Queen Victoria since 1843.
Years passed, the company developed, not stopping in experiments to create the perfect whiskey. In 1909, the followers of the Chivas brothers achieved perfection in the art of blending – Chivas Regal 25 appeared. A drink with many years of aging received the status of the world’s first elite whiskey.
It was an exceptional combination of single malts and grains, with high hopes of conquering the vast American market. Chivas Regal Scotch did the job, quickly captivating the Manhattan elite and becoming the leading Scotch whiskey brand in the US right up until Prohibition.
Having survived this difficult time for manufacturers, in 1938 Chivas returned to the New World under the brand name Chivas Regal 12 and again took the top positions in the ratings. Later, Frank Sinatra, a great connoisseur of good scotch, paid tribute to the drink, and the brand, in turn, sponsored his Diamond Jubilee Tour in 1990.
In 1950, Chivas Brothers acquired Scotland’s oldest distillery, Strathisla, which produces the single malt whiskey of the same name used in Chivas Regal blends. In 1989, Colin Scott, whose father and grandfather also devoted their lives to the Scotch whiskey industry, received the position of master blender in 2000. Since then, Colin Scott has been the custodian of the Chivas Regal style. In XNUMX, control of the Chivas Regal company passed to the alcohol concern Pernod Ricard.
Awards
One of the distillery’s most titled blends is Chivas Regal 12 years old:
- 2003 and 2004 – gold medal at the International Spirits Competition Cocktail Awards;
- 2006 – silver medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition;
- 2008 – Silver Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2013 – two gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2013 and 2015 – gold medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition;
- 2015 – Gold medal at The Scotch Whiskey Masters.
Chivas Regal 18:
- 2014 – Silver medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition;
- 2015 – Gold medal in the blended Scotch whiskey nomination at the International Wine & Spirits Competition;
- 2015 – Silver medal at The Scotch Whiskey Masters.
Interesting Facts
- Frank Sinatra asked to bring a bottle of Chivas to the dressing room to relax during the concert break.
- Chivas Regal sponsored The Black Eyed Peas, Robbie Williams, Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera tours in Asia.
- A bottle of Chivas scotch is featured on screens on the popular TV series Boston Lawyers.
- The life of the protagonist of the science fiction film “Passengers” (2016) on board a spaceship is brightened up by Chivas Regal.
- In collaboration with the British watch brand Bremont, Chivas Brothers presented 12 Chivalry collection chronometers. Under the sapphire crystal are placed rings made from an oak barrel in which the scotch was aged. The watch comes with a bottle of Chivas Regal 12 YO
- In 2017, popular actor Javier Bardem became the brand ambassador of the new variety Chivas Regal Ultis.
Types of whiskey Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal 12 YO, 40%
A perfectly balanced blend that has been a constant bestseller for more than a century. The drink gets its exquisite aroma and unsurpassed taste thanks to a special technology: first single malt varieties are mixed, grains separately, and only then the resulting blends are combined together. Aroma with tones of heather, wood shavings, toffee toffee, a touch of anise. The taste is light and round, sweet tannic, with notes of vanilla, peanuts, dried banana. Awarded with numerous awards and prizes at the most prestigious world exhibitions.
Chivas Regal 18 YO, 40%
A super premium Scotch whiskey blended from over 20 single malt Scotch whiskeys aged in oak barrels for at least 18 years. The recipe for Chivas Regal 18 was developed by master blender Colin Scott, which emphasizes the inscription Gold Signature (“Golden Signature”) on the label. Winner of numerous awards at the San Francisco International Wine and Spirits Competition. Flowers and herbs, spices, dried fruits, chocolate, notes of malt are felt in the aroma. The taste is soft and deep, sweetish-spicy, with hints of citrus and nuts. Gingerbread and light smoke are felt at the finish.
Chivas Royal Salute 21 YO, 40%
A rare, expensive, in the full sense of the word, an exclusive drink, created for an exceptionally solemn event – the coronation of Elizabeth II. Everything has been thought out to the smallest detail, from the name and age of the scotch to the design of the bottle: the number 21 corresponds to the number of guns from which the Royal Salute is made. Whiskey is sold in handmade decanters made of blue, dark green and red glass, which symbolize the sapphires, emeralds and rubies that adorn the royal crown.
The aroma is harmonious and dense, with hints of tropical fruits, spices, toffee intonation. The main motive in the taste is chocolate, nuts, astringency and a drop of smoke appear towards the finish. Excellent as a digestif.
Chivas Regal 25 25 YO, 40%
A rare and exclusive blend of the finest Scotch whiskeys from the cellars of the Chivas distillery, matured for at least 25 years. This 25-year-old scotch is only available as a limited edition in individually numbered bottles. The inscription “original” adorning the label means that Colin Scott restored the original recipe of Charles Howard, a master blender who worked almost a century ago. According to connoisseurs, the Chivas Regal 25 blend is the most successful in the history of the brand. In 2010, Jim Murray awarded it a 95 in his Whiskey Bible.
The aroma is very deep, replete with fruity notes, dominated by orange and peach, with hints of almonds and marzipans. The taste is full-bodied, delicate, creamy, with hints of chocolate, custard and sweet fruit.
Chivas Regal Extra, 40%
A sophisticated interpretation of Chivas’ key style. The blend of the drink contains a large percentage of whiskey aged in Oloroso sherry casks. A sherry oak barrel gives the whiskey a chocolate-orange flavor and aromas of dried fruits and spices. In 2015, Scotch was awarded Gold Medals at The Scotch Whiskey Masters and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The aroma is intense, honey, with hints of vanilla, caramel, ripe pear, there are bright spicy notes. On the palate, sweet notes of chocolate, herbal honey, with nuances of spices are obvious. There are spices in the warm aftertaste – vanilla, ginger, cinnamon.
Chivas Regal Revolve,40%
Premium blend of rare whiskeys. It is bottled in dark glass bottles, the shape of which has remained unchanged since the XNUMXth century – they look like a children’s spinning top. According to legend, the bottom of one of the bottles turned out to be uneven, which caused it to rotate. So the name Revolve was born by itself – “rotation”. It has a light bouquet with notes of honey, herbs, fresh fruits, orange peel. The taste continues the aroma, it also has hints of caramel and walnuts.
Royal Salute Hundred Cask Selection, 40%
A super-premium drink created by master blender Colin Scott combined spirits aged in 100 bourbon and sherry casks. The blend is based on single malts aged 25, 30 and 40 years. A solid aging period is also accompanied by a prestigious design: scotch is poured into handmade decanters, hand-painted and packed in gift boxes.
The aroma is complex, at first vanilla and nutty tones predominate, which then give way to fruity and woody tones. On the palate there is a dense oak, apple, cinnamon. The finish is long, enveloping, slightly smoky.
Chivas Regal Ultis, 40%
New for 2016 is the brand’s first blended malt whiskey. The blend contains only 5 single malts from different Speyside distilleries: Allt-a-Bhainne, Braeval, Longmorn, Strathisla and Tormore. Dedicated to five generations of blenders who worked at the Chivas distilleries. The aroma is rich with hints of honey, peach, fudge, cinnamon. On the palate, notes of persimmon, pear, dark chocolate and ginger are heard.
