Golf and whisky are without question Scotland’s greatest imports (tartan may take third place), so it’s fitting that the folks from Dewar’s rolled out a commemorative “Champions Edition” of its 19-year-old to mark this year’s U.S. Open, which was held in Brookline, Massachusetts this past June.
We at Bevvy are not qualified to talk about golf, but we can talk about whisky. In this case, the special release is a blend of over 40 single malt and grain whiskies that’s been double-aged with extra maturation occurring in ex-bourbon, ex-rye, and new American oak casks.
On the nose, Dewar’s 19 is light, with fruity notes of green apple, vanilla, toffee, caramel, brown butter, and fudge. It proves decisively mellow on the palate, with initial flavors of green apple in brown sugar followed by an astringent hit of stone fruits, and then a soft, melty butterscotch richness washed down with honey. We hit oak at the back of the palate, where it’s followed by fudge and a distinct flavor of torched marshmallows with caramelized sugar.
If there was one word I’d use to describe this edition of Dewar’s 19, it would be “mellow.” As someone whose whisky preferences lean bolder, that might sound like a knock, but in truth I was appreciative of the round, rolling character of Dewar’s 19, which managed to be mellow while delivering a worthwhile ride through astringent stone fruit notes and melty butterscotch goodness. It’s the kind of whisky you want to come home to after the end of a long day, when you want to be comforted—but not without the promise of discovering something new.
★★★
Stats:
— 43% ABV
— $79.99
