I’m a bit late with my post today and I am sorry about that, it has been a busy start of the week with Thanksgiving just a few days away. I recently got the chance to taste two whiskies from the Chivas range, Chivas Regal Extra (newest member of their range) and Chivas Regal 18 year-old. For those not familiar with the brand, Chivas is a blended whisky that was first established in Aberdeen by the Chivas Brothers. Today, Chivas is one of the ranges offered by Pernod Ricard.

What was great about tasting these two at the same time was that I got a chance to compare the two while trying. One definitely stood out to me more than the other. I’ll start with the Extra.

The Chivas Extra is meant to sit between Chivas 12 and 18. It is a blend of whiskies aged in Sherry Casks and a bottle averages around $40 or so.

Extra Tasting Notes
Nose: fruity, cinnamon and chocolate
Palate: sweet, notes of sherry, cinnamon and nuts
Finish: sweet and light

It is a good dram, it’s just not amazing and honestly, I said the same exact thing about the 12 year when I wrote about it. What I enjoyed the most about this whisky was how light and fruity it was. What I didn’t enjoy is that I felt it was boring and lacking somewhat.

I’ve heard people compare the Extra with the 12-year. Some say that one is better than the other. I can’t honestly say that one is truly better than the other. I did appreciated the 12-year a tad bit more than I did the Extra but not by much. Honestly, I was just unimpressed.

I think if you are a Chivas fan, enjoy fruitier whiskies and are looking for an affordable blend, then you will enjoy the Extra. It will not blow your socks away, but it’s a solid option if you simply want something that is OK. That is truly all I can say about it.

Now my thoughts on the 18-year are quite different. Master Blender Colin Scott created the 18-year blend. It includes over 20 different whiskies from around Scotland. The average cost for this bottle is around $75.

18-Year Tasting Notes
Nose: Fruit, vanilla and chocolate
Palate: chocolate, toffee, hints of sweetness and slight touches of smokiness
Finish: bold, spices and very balanced

I really enjoyed this 18-year blend. It is bolder and balanced. I am sure you already know that if I had to choose, the 18 would be my preference over the 12 and the Extra. It is slightly more expensive than the others, but if you were to compare this price to other 18-year-old whiskies out there, you’d know that this cost is a bit of a deal when it comes to 18-year-old whiskies.

This 18-year Chivas is elegant! It is smooth and drinkable to the point that it would even be good for non-whisky drinkers. In a dram you will find sweetness and smokiness balanced with notes of chocolate. It is quite delightful. I would definitely recommend it over the other two.

What’s important to note that that all our palates are different. Overall these are two different whiskies, I may not love the Extra but others might think it’s amazing. In the end it all really depends on what you are looking for.

Cheers!

PS: Safe travels to all those traveling to visit loved ones for Thanksgiving.

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.