Chivas Regal 18 vs Green Label: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Chivas Regal 18 vs Johnnie Walker Green Label In this in-depth comparison and decide which Whisky is better for You!

Chivas Regal 18

Nose	Apple, vanilla, pear
Palate	Ripe fruit, oak, vanilla, plum
Finish	Long, vanilla, apple, oak
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Chivas 12, Glenfiddich 18

Chivas 18 is not a Single Malt but a blend of 20 Single Malt whiskies, each aged for at least 18 years and crafted in distilleries owned by Pernod Ricard across Scotland.

Chivas assures that the core spirit in the blend is single malt Scotch coming from the Strathisla distillery, which was established in 1786 and is the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands.

Nose is mild with the apple juice aroma of every Chivas whisky, along vanilla and pear.

Flavor hits with ripe fruity, vanilla, plum and subtle oak. There is a bit of warmth mid-palate but is not harsh or burny.

The finish lingers with vanilla, apple and a touch of oak spice with a bit of a bite coming late to the party.

Overall, the Chivas 18 is well balanced, not too complex, but a nice easy drinker where nothing really stands out, although a bit warmer than expected.

This is a vast improvement over its 12 YO sibling which has the same apple juice flavor but is way warmer and quite peppery.

Drinks OK neat, but becomes better when adding a drop of water. I would not use it as a mixer when you can use the 12 YO saving good money.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Chivas Regal 18:

• The Wine Enthusiast called the Chivas 18 “one of the finest blended scotches in the world”.

• The whisky expert Paul Pacult called it: “blended scotch doesn’t get any better than this.”

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Nose	Coffee, smoke, chocolate, oak
Palate	Dates, walnuts, barley, coffee
Finish	Long, caramel, spice, oak
Alcohol content	86 proof (43% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Blue Label, Black Label

Just like the Chivas 18 this is not a Single Malt Scotch but a blend of Single Malts crafted at various distilleries owned by Diageo.

You can’t call it a single malt according to the laws that govern Scotch whisky but let’s call it an “unofficial single malt”.

The nose has an espresso coffee aroma, along chocolate, oak and a tad of smoke and iodine, making it quite pleasant.

On the palate, the Green Label has a medium body. First taste is sweet and smooth, rich in dates, walnuts, malt, more coffee to it and a mineral note.

The finish is long and mostly sweet, light on the smoke and just a bit of oak spice..

The JW Green Label is one of my favorites as it delivers a smooth and interesting taste at a good price.

It is smooth and mellow with a bit of smoke on the palate, and spice on the finish, and then the hint of peat comes back right at the end. Nice balance in body, alcohol and peat.

Overall, the Green Label is a delicious dram with great combination of smokiness, sweetness and flavor, neither a peat monster nor a sherry bomb and much less a fruity dessert dram. 

In my opinion the best Johnny Walker whisky for the money. Green Label is what I call the “insider pick” and the best Johnnie Walker to buy for the money.

There are a few facts worth knowing about this Scotch.

• The blend contains malts from some of the finest distilleries such as Caol ila, Talisker, Linkwood and Cragganmore.

• The whiskies in the blend were aged for at least 15 years.

Chivas 18 vs Green Label: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Chivas Regal 18	$58
Johnnie Walker Green Label	$48

Chivas 18 vs Green Label: Which is better?

The Green Label is a more satisfying whisky

Whiskey	Chivas 18	Green Label
Nose	✅	✅
Body		✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish		✅
Value	✅	✅

• These “unofficial Single Malts” offer good value for the money as they are enjoyable and attractively priced.

• Yet, the Green Label has a nicer tasting notes, a light hit of smoke and a bit more of proof (ABV) that doesn’t feel providing a good experience from start to finish.

• The Chivas 18 is a vast improvement over the Chivas 12 as it doesn’t feel as peppery and bitter but I still prefer the Green Label which is one of my favorites in this segment and at a price hard to beat.