Dewar’s 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, +/-2009)

The Official Line. Dewar’s 12 is a perfectly balanced marriage of carefully selected 12 year old malt and grain Scotch whiskies, created by Dewar’s seventh Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod . This perfectly balanced taste is achieved through the marrying process, originally pioneered by the first Master Blender, A J Cameron. Only malt and grain whiskies of the highest quality are used to create this rich, fruity and delightfully mellow whisky.  The Marrying Process; The Dewar’s marrying process takes fine Scotch whiskies at their peak of perfection and improves upon them. Having created a blend of the finest Scotch whiskies from the different regions of Scotland, Dewar’s Master Blender then allows them to rest for a further period in exclusively reserved vintage oak casks, ensuring that their individual flavours and aromas harmonise to achieve the perfectly balanced and exceptionally smooth Scotch that is Dewar’s 12. Marrying these superb whiskies adds a smoothness that science cannot explain, but which your taste will at once discern. Limited Edition. Each and every bottle is numbered and stands as a mark of exclusivity, with Dewar’s guarantee of quality.

The nose very much presents as a blended Scotch whisky at first however a short time later some good toffee notes arrive nicely backed by the grain notes. All very pleasant. Some good oak spice is also in the mix  along with some heather. Again, the oak spice really adds some back bone to the whole collection of aromas. The taste is very much like the nose with some very good grains followed by the oak spice and then a wonderful dry maltiness that really makes it. Intertwined with these characteristics are some good toffee. The finish is much like the taste with the dry maltiness, now some really good Fry’s unsweetened cocoa and more of the malt tussling with the oak spice. A surprisingly long finish that does not fall apart over time and the dry malt arrives at the very tail end.

Well, well, another surprise. One is forced to conclude that it would be a real belter unchillfiltered and at 46%. But they are correct, it’s very well balanced.

Score 86 points

$22 in some USA markets and $45 in Canada