Last Updated on: 11th June 2024, 01:03 am
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
Discover everything about the Dewar’s 18 in this in-depth review that answers all your related questions with no fluff!
Written by: J Highland
Dewar’s 18: A Mixed Experience for the Price
Rating: ⭐⭐
Dewar’s 18 offers an interesting aroma of Christmas cake, but the taste falls short. The dominant flavors are musty oak and sour apples, which may not be for everyone.
The finish is brief and doesn’t leave a lingering flavor. While the price might seem attractive at first glance, there are other whiskies around $50 that offer a more well-rounded flavor profile, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
- Related: Best Scotches under $50
- Learn more: Dewar’s 18 Website
What’s unique about it?
- This is a blend of single malt whiskies from 5 different distilleries owned by Dewar’s.
- First aged in American oak before being blended and refilled into an oak vat to be rested.
How does it taste?
- Nose: Fresh bread, cherries, orange, baking spice
- Palate: Oak, sour apples, ripe fruit, peat
- Finish: Short, smoke, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
- Similar to: Chivas 18
The nose is truly captivating, opening with a scent reminiscent of Christmas Cake that carries notes of freshly baked bread, cherries, orange, and a sprinkle of baking spice.
When it comes to the palate, the 18-year-old expression presents a somewhat lighter body.
However, the initial sip doesn’t quite replicate the Christmas Cake sensation from the nose.
Instead, it introduces a musty oak flavor with upfront sour apple notes, followed by a touch of ripe fruit.
While the taste holds a subtle hint of peat, it remains exceptionally delicate.
The finish is relatively brief, offering a subtle wisp of smoke and an undercurrent of oak spice bitterness.
Dewar’s 18 FAQ
Here is a quick FAQ to address your doubts:
Is it smoky?
- On a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 represents the highest level, Dewar’s 18 garners a rating of ZERO, signifying its complete absence of smoke.
Dewar’s 15: Pricing Guide
- United States: $49
- Canada: $100
- Britain: £60
- Australia: $110
How to drink it?
- Add water: Adding water enhances the flavors and releases caramel notes, making it more enjoyable.
Alcohol content
- Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV), the average alcohol content of Scotch whisky.
Aging
- The blend contains whiskies aged for a minimum of 18 years.
- Dewar’s claims a backbone of 27-year-old whisky but doesn’t provide the exact percentage.
About Dewar’s
- Founded in 1846 by John Dewar Sr., Dewar’s.
- John A. Dewar Jr. and Tommy Dewar expanded the brand globally, winning awards, including a gold medal at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
- Aberfeldy Distillery was built in 1896 to ensure a malt whisky supply for the blend.
- In 1925, Dewar’s joined Distillers Company, later acquired by Guinness in 1986.
- Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo in 1997, and Dewar’s was subsequently sold to Bacardi in the following year.
Does it expire?
- Alcohol doesn’t expire.
- Store it in a cool place away from sunlight and finish it promptly once the content is down to 25%.
How to store it?
- Store upright in a cool place, protecting it from sunlight and avoiding contact with the stopper.
How did I review Dewar’s 18?
I run a pub and a liquor store, granting me extensive access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller.
My evaluations include my insights and feedback from customers and patrons and whiskey expert opinions from Neil Coleman who has been for decades in the liquor business.
I also corroborate my views with online research to ensure accuracy.
Our ratings are determined primarily by four key factors: aroma, taste, finish, and value for money. While we do consider packaging, it is of lesser importance to us, as we prioritize the quality of the liquid inside over the aesthetics of the bottle.
⭐ – Poor, ⭐⭐ – Average, ⭐⭐⭐ – Good, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Very Good, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Excellent.
Dewar’s 18: Specs
| Type of Whisky | Blend |
| Age statement | 18 |
| Proof | 80 |
| ABV | 40% |
| Is it good? | Not much |
| Is it top-shelf? | No |
| Does it expire? | No |
| Sweet? | Moderately |
| Warm? | No |
| Peaty? | No |
| Good for beginners? | No |
| Good for cocktails? | No |
| Good with Coke? | No |
| Calories per shot | 108 |
| Gluten-free | Yes |
| Keto-friendly | Yes |
| Kosher | No |