I really enjoying watching your reviews and I'll tell you why. Your reviews are so extremely thorough. Background for distillery, nose, notes and tastes. Keep it up. I do not always agree but I still deeply respect your opinions.
My father's FAVORITE the Chivas Regal 12 yo, my father passed away June 10th 4 days away from his 94th birthday, and while I'm not a real drinking man, I had a glass of Chivas at dinner recently, and enjoyed it, it was sweeter than most scotches and smoother, I will make this my drink of choice from now on in honor my my beloved father. Rest in peace dad.
Ok, I;m a 63 yo Canadian. I rediscovered scotch about a month before Christmas 2012. Being new, I bought The Glenlivit. For Christmas I recieved Glenfiddich 12yo, McClennands islay, Grants family reserve, Teachers Hland cream and this crap. This Chevis came way of duty free complete with wet box and leaking cap from Punta Cana. . Being new, this is really the first one I can agree with. Even my new nose, and new mouth can tell this needs something stronger then a slice of orange...God bless
The biggest positive aspect of this one is how easy it is to drink... but I would choose Vat 69 over it any day given the choice. Thanks for the review Ralfy.
A Scottish man with real honour, not taking the bait. I, for one, truly appreciate your conveying of the history of a given whisky and it is as the HP (the sauce maker) motto goes, 'the best things come to those who wait' :) Na zdrowie to you :)
From the States. Just turned 21, bought this scotch, and drank alongside with you, Ralfy! Can't wait to drink some single barrels while studying in London this winter. Cheers!
My college roommate drank this (with liberal application of Sprite and cheap cigars) when he felt like being posh. In central Texas. Eighty miles from the nearest metropolitan area. Of course, I was not much better since I thought Johnnie Walker Green Label was the end-all, be-all. Good times all around, haha. I'm on the hunt for Glenfarclas 12 or 15 year old (whichever I see first) after watching your interview.
Kapila Nawaratne Chivas needs only a little water and a little ice. You don't mix this one with coke or anything unless you absolutely have to. Jack D is fine for that, JW red, maybe Dewars white label. The only thing that bugs me a bit is they add dye to Chivas for the coloring. They say induced by caramel? Not sure how that works, would like to know more.
I have to say, out of the 3 big low-end scotches (JW Red, Dewars white, and Chivas Regal) I liked the Chivas least. It was a little too hot compared to the others. It really detracted from the taste and replaced it with straight alcohol.
I love listening to your reviews. They are very thorough. You paint quite a picture with your words. Very well spoken. The one complaint I have is your grading system seems to give similar numbers. Fact of the matter is you are always reviewing good stuff and you get what you pay for is my experience with hard alcohol in particular. This makes for difficult contrast numerically. I will continue to look to you for my whiskey reviews. I would like to see you review other forms of alcohol as well.
I started with drinking Chivas and Glenmorangie back when I started drinking whisky but have since moved on to better whiskys. Like GlenDronach, Aberlour, Highland Park, Dalmore, Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenfarclas, but it has been about 5 years since my last try at Chivas Regal 12 until recently. I would like your opinion on this Ralfy because after trying it recently it tastes much more rougher than it did 5 years ago and tastes more like solvent cleaner. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me because I remembered it being smother and easily palatable. My problem is when I have had people asking me what is a good starting whisky to get their bearings I point them in the direction of Chivas Regal and Glenmorangie and now I feel like an idiot because it just ain't what I remember. Glenmorangie is still good tho.
I brought a small bottle of chivas regal 12yrs when I turned twenty-one in 2010. and I loved it because had sweet componets even though it was a blended whisky.
I tried a dram of this tonight and was underwhelmed. I compared it to the SMS that I usually drink & thought it lacked a definitive taste. It wasn't bad but just didn't have anything that stood out. After listening to your explanation, I undersand why. Thanks for your input. It adds a lot to my knowledge base.
Michael Youngblood That’s actually why I’m here! Tried this a few years ago among many other whisky’s I was drinking at the time, but it didn’t stand out to me at the time for some reason. (Probably a little too drunk). Just bought a bottle a few days ago and am about to dive into it within the next few days. Cheers mate!
@vigil12348 many malts since then, guided by your terrific reviews and advices and I've elaborated a taste and distinctive ability to sense the ingredients. I've developped an immunity against shitty bottlings. I will never ever risk with a modern blend and I will always carry a malt in my car for an occasion like this. Life is too precious to be drinking questionable mix ups. Cheers and Happy New Year, Ralfy.
thats his opinion... people can use it as a reference. and he has said time and time again that whisky is for ever changing, and your opinion on a whisky will change each time u revisit it. so the rating system is really just a guide, but no rating system can really work as we all have different tastes.
John Zoidberg Well i'm not some expert but just from experiencing both JW black and Chivas. I can say I like chivas better, it's smoother IMO. They are both smooth and very similiar though I think. But yea I think i like chivas little more.
+John Zoidberg Personally Black Label is good but differs from bottle to bottle where Chivas is more consistent I think all whiskys take a few sips to discover their uniqueness, here in New Zealand they're pricey nice for a gift or a treat or duty free. JWBL hits the spot if you haven't had it for a while but red label needs ice
also regarding his rating system. If you havent noticed, Ralfy gives a 'blend mark' or a 'malt mark'. So to be fair to blends they are rated seperately. Your example here is that Grants (blend) is rated higher than Balvenie bdl wood (malt). Again the rating system can onyl be used as a guide, enjoy the rest of the review and ignor the rating if u like.
Thanks for this review Ralfy! I'm working my way through your channel. Got a bottle of CR 12 YO as a present a few days ago and decided to make it the beginning of my adventure into the world of whisky. Interesting stuff! Slaandjivaa!
Funny. It's comfortable blends like this that made it so hard for me to like Scotch at first, whereas much feared Islay "peat bombs" I find effortlessly drinkable. There's something in blends and lowlands that makes me feel ill and I wish I knew why.
Hey Ralfy since you mentioned it this review, what's your opinion of the 12 year old Strathisla? I'm considering purchasing a bottle, but since it's not easy to find around here I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. Any plans to review it?
I started tasting single malts when I first decided to open give scotch a try. Eventually I started tasting blended scotch so as not to become a single malt snob, and also to see if my unsophisticated palate could discern and appreciate the difference. Chivas Regal 12 was my first blend. And I quite liked it.
Here in the US where I live, the 12 year is about $40. I don't think that's too terrible, but definitely I tend to go with the single malts when they are on sale around that price. This CR12 won my wallet yesterday over an Ardbeg 10 and I don't regret it (it's too hot down here right now for super peat!), I do tend to buy the Laphroaig though when I find it, unfortunately it's never on sale. I had the Glen Morangie Lasanta on sale recently and really enjoyed it, although it's nothing like prayed whisky.
According to Wikipedia the 3rd best selling scotch Whisky on the world now is Grants (and I'm sure thanks to your review Ralfy!). So my question changes now to who's the 4th best selling Scotch Whisky in the world? Thank you Ralfy!
I tried the 18yo just yesterday and found him very nice, rich, sweet, with sherry nose and palate and a wonderfull robust finish. I strongly recommend tasting it.
Wanted to follow up by mentioning that I have a bottle of 2011 Chivas 12 that's about halfway down. And I have to say time and oxygen did not improve it one bit. The harsh grain whisky notes are making it real hard to find the malt flavors.
hey ralfy. just wondering about this blend+green tea stuff - how does that work? mixing a blend sort of 50:50 with cold green tea you've boiled before? apart from that, what do you think about ballantine's finest? a rather cheap one here in germany, but i still like it somehow.
I dont drink much alcohol but for some reason whiskey has caught my eye few times and I have always wondered if this might be something I like. I don't know any person who drinks whiskey but I know many who say that it is crap. So now I started wondering if it is possible to determine if I would like whiskey or not?
@vigil12348 Just out of curiosity was the bottle from 2006 already open? I've found that a lot of newly opened bottles need a bit of oxygen to breathe and open up. Give that 2011 bottle another taste now and see if it's any different. Otherwise it means quality has gone down.
Very interesting. I remember many many years ago when I stepped up to Chivas and loved the stuff. Despite the growing preference of single malts here in North America I still find CR to be a great scotch for sipping.
My friend brought a bottle of this over as his first bottle of scotch. The honey is so smooth with this, and it's interesting what happens to the nose and arrival with a straw or two of water. However, the finish is absolutely flat and just does not last at all.
I agree with all the nose and tasting notes you gave but I also get white wine nose and taste notes in this that are quite pronounced at least for me and the batch that I got.
Hmm, fair enough. May I ask a stupid question, why do you think single malters would drink blends? To get as close experience as possible to a SM for less money? Or to have something different all together? As in a drink that requires less thought and care etc and could be drank in larger quantities and faster?... Btw I came across a glass of a blend called Bell's (8yr) seems awfully nice for a blended scotch, you ever tried it?
QUESTION. Hello i enjoy your videos and have started shopping around with blends with sadly a small budget. the question is if i had to chose between blends should i just go with a cheaper Grants family reserve or or pay more for Chivas (witch i like but cuts into my budget).
the problem with this blended scotch is that your paying a significantly higher price for pretty packaging when the flavour is not much better or pretty much on par with the basic Canadian (such as a Canadian Club Classic) or American blended whiskys
just throwing this fact out there: a review is someone's opinion, not a written fact, whether he likes more a Chivas then a Blue Label is none of our concern
I wondered why you didn't add any water to this scotch so I tried it myself, let it sit for half an hour and....nothing. Does the grain whiskey prevent the malts from opening up?
Chivas Regal, and Johnnie Walker Black and waaay too good to add coke and ginger ale to! I just don't understand why the experts always say these 12yr old blends will primarily be used for mixing!!?? Supermarket own, Teachers, Bells JW Red are for mixing but JW Black?? If Its good enough for the Saudi Royal family and Christopher Hitchens then it good enough for me!!
He's not saying they should be mixed, he is saying the general masses that dont know what they are doing will mix it because it is widely available and relatively cheap and most people dont appreciate scotch.
Ralfy I have found an old bottle of 12YO Chivas my father had stored for around 30 years (circa mid 1970s).. Would this one be much better quality than the current standard or have Chivas been consistent over the years?
Hi Ralfy, it may be a simple question, but when it comes to Blends, would you generally prefer those with age to those with no age indicated? E.g. the Chivas 12 to the Famouse Grouse or the Ballentines with no age? I love Single Malts, but now I'm starting to enjoy Blends as well.
Thank you for the review. Sadly, I didn't watch this before buying a 1.14 L bottle over a 12 yo Glenfiddich. Blended wiskeys cannot be compared to single malts.
+Roderick Wolf There are some mediocre single malts and there are some good blends but it always pays to do your homework before putting your hand in your pocket. Let Ralfy be your guide. The big advantage of single malts to my mind is the way they all have a unique character. It's a bit like the difference between listening to a string quartet or a large orchestra. There are some benefits to a big orchestra but it's hard to pick out the individual elements and can easily sound like a big mush. Blended whiskies often just taste like a big mush and are much less interesting for that reason. I have never liked CR though. As was pointed out by another poster, it's grossly over-priced in the UK for what it is.
+Joshua Rosen It's the use of grain alcohol in blended whisky that makes it generally inferior to single malt. The nomenclature is intended by the industry to be a bit misleading. Makes you think the issue is one of blended vs. unblended/pure. The real question is: what is being blended? (Malted barley whisky vs. grain alcohol)
great review as always! 5 stars for sure! my question would be why is it ok for a blend to add e-150? 12 year old this means the single malt and grains are both 12 years + have they not picked up enough color from the wood in the 12 years? bourbon never needs this because new oak char it always picks up enough color from that for an example.
Hello Ralfy! Just wanted to know, you have mentioned JW Black Label #1 Scotch Whisky in the world, Chivas Regal 12yo close 2nd and Grants Family Reserve 4th best selling scotch Whisky in the world! Which one is the 3rd beat selling scotch Whisky in the world? And have you reviewed it? Thank you!
Just purchased a small 35cl bottle of this because it was all that was available in a Spar that was open xmas day & I have to say i'm finding it rather bland. Merry Christmas Ralfy.
In my opinion Chivas Regal 12 year old isn't too bad I think I would probably rather have it over buying Johnnie Walker red chiveas Regal is really good on the arrival but on the Finish it is a little bit lacking but I would still rather have it rather than a lot of other blends
Great job. I was given Chivas Royal 12 as a Christmas present by my brother and tried to follow your review doing it as you went through. I gave, and thus guessed from you, an 85/100, but who's counting?
He's consistent, average or high priced and branded names in fancy boxes and bottles get the same low average mark, this SHOWS that the PRICE DIFFERENCE is the advertising, the box and the status symbol...likely they are made from the same corporate jokes
Part 1 This New Year I was short on cash and ambition, I was invited by a friend for a quiet family dinner on the 31, they have two kids, just wanted to relax. Last time we got drunk on Bowmore and it was pretty heave the next day, so I decided to bring a bottle of Chivas for a smooth deluxe blend night over charcuterie and sallads. The biggest mistake I ever made! First we had a dram from a Chivas bottling from 2006, that my friend kept in his cabinet - it was lovely - well balanced...
hahaha are you off to get another bottle of the singlemalt to review ralphy :D i knoticed you didnt pour much then...are you taking the hearse down he he.. chivas gives me the shiversssss it was nice of you to give it 83 ;)
I do not know which whisky or whisky's is used in the formulation of Drambuie but after drinking some Chivas for the first time I swear that's where I have tasted it before. Overall not too bad of stuff.
my grand mother just gave me an old bottle of chivas 12 with the same box design, i am trying to date it. any tips? im guessing its early 2000 but not sure
There is also a Strathisla Chivas 12 yo malt wich I tried some month ago and Wow what a lovely whiskey that was. Not that much smoke or peat, maybe a bit of the sweet side and that warmness it created down the throught it was incredible.
Can we see a re-review of this I got a bottle recently and it felt much more rough and it had a solvent like smell and taste. I had a bottle of this 9 years ago and I remember thinking it was great and smooth but now it feels like a different whisky altogether.
Well, let me tell you something, and this is a personal view of whiskey. Whiskey is a very mature drink. I can guarantee that many who like sweeter drinks like rum, if it is made properly, can like whiskey. There is always a slight bitterness, this is due to the malt itself. However, if you are a starter, I would sugest a single malt from either Old Pulteny or from Cooley. Old Pulteny has a wee taste of chocolate in it if you ask me and Tyrconell has a lovely jasmine finish and a rich malt aroma
Hey Ralfy, I have a question for you. I'm 18, and have never really enjoyed liquor, but I also haven't been exposed to that many different kinds. I would really like to start getting into "Enjoying" a nice whisky or whisky blend every now and then. My question for you is: Have you always had a fondness for whisky/liquor in general? Or was it more of an acquired taste? I would really like to know. Thanks for the great videos!
What a great video and channel! I will begin watching as many of these as I can. Maybe in a few years I will be an aficionado on alcoholic beverages : )
I'm greatly enjoying some Strathisla tonight in Japan. I've noticed that Tomatin is starting to make a strong presents in some of the major supermarkets here. I've read that it is a owned by a Japanese company. Any thoughts on this? At first sip I was immediately reminded of a blend, mainly Ballantine. It has a pretty strong and long lasting enjoyable aftertaste.
Had my first dram of Chivas today. Nothing to write home about but not bad either :) I would keep this on hand as a mixer and company and keep the good stuff for myself ;)
hi @ralfystuff, is it true that the JW black label has more caramel thn chivas regal.. I noticed the glass that I left overnight of black label has brownish substance after it is dried. it isn't that obvious with the chivas.. correct me if I'm wrong
@ralfystuff good point about blended's. Blended scotch is like a cheeseburger on the menu of an exotic retaurant. Its like a comfortable, safe choice. That bieng said this its my favorite blend for sure, i like it much better than Johnny
Hi Ralfy. enjoyin Chivas12 rite now! Beautiful nose! Any chance of a "grain spirit series" those 12yo grain spirits that contribute to the many many malt blends we all enjoy?? Thanks
@ralfystuff Thanks for that. May I ask, how long does it take to really develop a taste for Chivas or any Scotch so that it becomes more than just OK, but really truly wonderful? I see your passion for scotch, and I wonder, were you just born that way? Or is a Scotch lover made as well as born?
maybe whyte and mackay or Grouse. Would be nice to think it was a single malt though, in which case it would likely be Macallan or Glenfiddich. Obviously this is in the Scotch category or whisky.... But as far as world whisky is concerned, Jamesons, JD and Beam would certainly blow most scotch out of the water as far as sales are concerned.
Hello Ralfy. I'm quite new to whisky and I found in my dad's cabinet a Chivas Regal 12y opened. that as been siting there since 1991. Did it do it any good or has it made it worst. I smell maple syrup and wood, a lot of wood. let me know what you think. thanks. Very nice videos by the way. Very helpfull for newbies like me.
. . . it may be a bit woody/cardboardy to begin with but let it settle down in the bottle for a few weeks and you should see an improvement. Good luck !.
I really enjoying watching your reviews and I'll tell you why. Your reviews are so extremely thorough. Background for distillery, nose, notes and tastes. Keep it up. I do not always agree but I still deeply respect your opinions.
+AntonioPenja . . . thanks for that malt-mate !
My father's FAVORITE the Chivas Regal 12 yo, my father passed away June 10th 4 days away from his 94th birthday, and while I'm not a real drinking man, I had a glass of Chivas at dinner recently, and enjoyed it, it was sweeter than most scotches and smoother, I will make this my drink of choice from now on in honor my my beloved father. Rest in peace dad.
Ok, I;m a 63 yo Canadian. I rediscovered scotch about a month before Christmas 2012. Being new, I bought The Glenlivit. For Christmas I recieved Glenfiddich 12yo, McClennands islay, Grants family reserve, Teachers Hland cream and this crap. This Chevis came way of duty free complete with wet box and leaking cap from Punta Cana. . Being new, this is really the first one I can agree with. Even my new nose, and new mouth can tell this needs something stronger then a slice of orange...God bless
Pernod Ricard also owned two of our national [Polish] treasures: Wyborowa and Luksusowa (one of few vodkas distilled from potatoes)
The biggest positive aspect of this one is how easy it is to drink... but I would choose Vat 69 over it any day given the choice. Thanks for the review Ralfy.
Thanks ralfy , i have watched most of your early reviews love them.
Another fine Ralfy presentation. Enjoyed. My uncle had this around in early 70s as they were big drinkers in those years. Bye🍸🇬🇧🇺🇸🎅🎄👍
A Scottish man with real honour, not taking the bait. I, for one, truly appreciate your conveying of the history of a given whisky and it is as the HP (the sauce maker) motto goes, 'the best things come to those who wait' :) Na zdrowie to you :)
From the States. Just turned 21, bought this scotch, and drank alongside with you, Ralfy! Can't wait to drink some single barrels while studying in London this winter. Cheers!
My college roommate drank this (with liberal application of Sprite and cheap cigars) when he felt like being posh. In central Texas. Eighty miles from the nearest metropolitan area.
Of course, I was not much better since I thought Johnnie Walker Green Label was the end-all, be-all.
Good times all around, haha. I'm on the hunt for Glenfarclas 12 or 15 year old (whichever I see first) after watching your interview.
I can't understand why people mix coke or any other fizzy drink with this quality stuff. This is too good for that!
Because they don't like taste of alcohol, but want to keep little bit of that whisky flavour, and of course don't get drunk too quick.
they should try a new hobby then...the only thing to ever mix with quality whiskey is a bit of water and a good western hehe.
Kapila Nawaratne Chivas needs only a little water and a little ice. You don't mix this one with coke or anything unless you absolutely have to. Jack D is fine for that, JW red, maybe Dewars white label. The only thing that bugs me a bit is they add dye to Chivas for the coloring. They say induced by caramel? Not sure how that works, would like to know more.
@@YPO6 i usually go on the rocks
some soda perhaps, a slice of orange hahaha got to love this guy:D
I have to say, out of the 3 big low-end scotches (JW Red, Dewars white, and Chivas Regal) I liked the Chivas least. It was a little too hot compared to the others. It really detracted from the taste and replaced it with straight alcohol.
I love listening to your reviews. They are very thorough. You paint quite a picture with your words. Very well spoken. The one complaint I have is your grading system seems to give similar numbers. Fact of the matter is you are always reviewing good stuff and you get what you pay for is my experience with hard alcohol in particular. This makes for difficult contrast numerically. I will continue to look to you for my whiskey reviews. I would like to see you review other forms of alcohol as well.
I started with drinking Chivas and Glenmorangie back when I started drinking whisky but have since moved on to better whiskys. Like GlenDronach, Aberlour, Highland Park, Dalmore, Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenfarclas, but it has been about 5 years since my last try at Chivas Regal 12 until recently. I would like your opinion on this Ralfy because after trying it recently it tastes much more rougher than it did 5 years ago and tastes more like solvent cleaner. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me because I remembered it being smother and easily palatable. My problem is when I have had people asking me what is a good starting whisky to get their bearings I point them in the direction of Chivas Regal and Glenmorangie and now I feel like an idiot because it just ain't what I remember. Glenmorangie is still good tho.
I brought a small bottle of chivas regal 12yrs when I turned twenty-one in 2010. and I loved it because had sweet componets even though it was a blended whisky.
I tried a dram of this tonight and was underwhelmed. I compared it to the SMS that I usually drink & thought it lacked a definitive taste. It wasn't bad but just didn't have anything that stood out. After listening to your explanation, I undersand why. Thanks for your input. It adds a lot to my knowledge base.
Hunter S Thompson any one?
Michael Youngblood That’s actually why I’m here! Tried this a few years ago among many other whisky’s I was drinking at the time, but it didn’t stand out to me at the time for some reason. (Probably a little too drunk). Just bought a bottle a few days ago and am about to dive into it within the next few days. Cheers mate!
@@PeconieMurlmander how was it
Starts doing cocaine seriously
the "seriously" part kills me every time
Hunter loved it. It went perfectly with his, Cocaine , weed and other designer drugs...
@vigil12348
many malts since then, guided by your terrific reviews and advices and I've elaborated a taste and distinctive ability to sense the ingredients. I've developped an immunity against shitty bottlings. I will never ever risk with a modern blend and I will always carry a malt in my car for an occasion like this. Life is too precious to be drinking questionable mix ups. Cheers and Happy New Year, Ralfy.
My favourite blend by far, good honest whisky.
thats his opinion... people can use it as a reference. and he has said time and time again that whisky is for ever changing, and your opinion on a whisky will change each time u revisit it. so the rating system is really just a guide, but no rating system can really work as we all have different tastes.
so if you had to choose between Chivas Regal 12yo and Johnny Walker Black Label which one would you pick?
John Zoidberg . . . JW Black
John Zoidberg I think JW Black has a smoother finish. But then Chivas does need a tiny bit of water, I normally sip it on it's own.
JW can beat Chivas with peat , Chivas beat JW with sweetness : honey hazelnut .. It's depend on your taste and mood !
cheers !
John Zoidberg Well i'm not some expert but just from experiencing both JW black and Chivas. I can say I like chivas better, it's smoother IMO. They are both smooth and very similiar though I think. But yea I think i like chivas little more.
+John Zoidberg Personally Black Label is good but differs from bottle to bottle where Chivas is more consistent I think all whiskys take a few sips to discover their uniqueness, here in New Zealand they're pricey nice for a gift or a treat or duty free. JWBL hits the spot if you haven't had it for a while but red label needs ice
also regarding his rating system. If you havent noticed, Ralfy gives a 'blend mark' or a 'malt mark'. So to be fair to blends they are rated seperately. Your example here is that Grants (blend) is rated higher than Balvenie bdl wood (malt). Again the rating system can onyl be used as a guide, enjoy the rest of the review and ignor the rating if u like.
Thanks for this review Ralfy! I'm working my way through your channel. Got a bottle of CR 12 YO as a present a few days ago and decided to make it the beginning of my adventure into the world of whisky. Interesting stuff! Slaandjivaa!
good luck with your malt-mission.
Funny. It's comfortable blends like this that made it so hard for me to like Scotch at first, whereas much feared Islay "peat bombs" I find effortlessly drinkable. There's something in blends and lowlands that makes me feel ill and I wish I knew why.
It's the amount ...
Hey Ralfy since you mentioned it this review, what's your opinion of the 12 year old Strathisla? I'm considering purchasing a bottle, but since it's not easy to find around here I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. Any plans to review it?
@ralfystuff Ralfy your social commentary and rhetoric on the developments in the whisky world is priceless.
Cheeer mate!
Regards, Malt-Matador
I started tasting single malts when I first decided to open give scotch a try. Eventually I started tasting blended scotch so as not to become a single malt snob, and also to see if my unsophisticated palate could discern and appreciate the difference. Chivas Regal 12 was my first blend. And I quite liked it.
Here in the US where I live, the 12 year is about $40. I don't think that's too terrible, but definitely I tend to go with the single malts when they are on sale around that price. This CR12 won my wallet yesterday over an Ardbeg 10 and I don't regret it (it's too hot down here right now for super peat!), I do tend to buy the Laphroaig though when I find it, unfortunately it's never on sale. I had the Glen Morangie Lasanta on sale recently and really enjoyed it, although it's nothing like prayed whisky.
+Anthony Hill Jr. peated** whisky. I cannot edit my post on my phone.
According to Wikipedia the 3rd best selling scotch Whisky on the world now is Grants (and I'm sure thanks to your review Ralfy!). So my question changes now to who's the 4th best selling Scotch Whisky in the world? Thank you Ralfy!
I tried the 18yo just yesterday and found him very nice, rich, sweet, with sherry nose and palate and a wonderfull robust finish. I strongly recommend tasting it.
Wanted to follow up by mentioning that I have a bottle of 2011 Chivas 12 that's about halfway down. And I have to say time and oxygen did not improve it one bit. The harsh grain whisky notes are making it real hard to find the malt flavors.
hey ralfy. just wondering about this blend+green tea stuff - how does that work? mixing a blend sort of 50:50 with cold green tea you've boiled before?
apart from that, what do you think about ballantine's finest? a rather cheap one here in germany, but i still like it somehow.
Within a 4-day span, I managed to pick up both the Chivas Regal 12 Year Old & 18 Year Old. Those I'm saving for a special occasion.
get some decent whisky, and save that. Chivas is made for coke and ice
Do you plan on buying me some "decent" whisky? I'll drink whatever the fuck I want.
BloodySawBlade
Woah, drink whatever you want man, drink motor oil if it makes you happy, or Shitvas Regal, hahaaha...
I dont drink much alcohol but for some reason whiskey has caught my eye few times and I have always wondered if this might be something I like. I don't know any person who drinks whiskey but I know many who say that it is crap. So now I started wondering if it is possible to determine if I would like whiskey or not?
@vigil12348
Just out of curiosity was the bottle from 2006 already open? I've found that a lot of newly opened bottles need a bit of oxygen to breathe and open up. Give that 2011 bottle another taste now and see if it's any different. Otherwise it means quality has gone down.
Very interesting. I remember many many years ago when I stepped up to Chivas and loved the stuff. Despite the growing preference of single malts here in North America I still find CR to be a great scotch for sipping.
My friend brought a bottle of this over as his first bottle of scotch. The honey is so smooth with this, and it's interesting what happens to the nose and arrival with a straw or two of water. However, the finish is absolutely flat and just does not last at all.
Hunter S. Thompsons favorite drink.
Frank Sinatra loved it too, was his second favorite after Jack Daniels
Are you planning on doing a review for Strathisla 12? I just picked up a bottle myself and loved it.
I agree with all the nose and tasting notes you gave but I also get white wine nose and taste notes in this that are quite pronounced at least for me and the batch that I got.
I enjoy this more than Glen livet and Glenfiddich. Sweet stuff.😊
Hmm, fair enough. May I ask a stupid question, why do you think single malters would drink blends? To get as close experience as possible to a SM for less money? Or to have something different all together? As in a drink that requires less thought and care etc and could be drank in larger quantities and faster?... Btw I came across a glass of a blend called Bell's (8yr) seems awfully nice for a blended scotch, you ever tried it?
QUESTION. Hello i enjoy your videos and have started shopping around with blends with sadly a small budget. the question is if i had to chose between blends should i just go with a cheaper Grants family reserve or or pay more for Chivas (witch i like but cuts into my budget).
It should have been cork at the top.
The 18 year has a cork.
the problem with this blended scotch is that your paying a significantly higher price for pretty packaging when the flavour is not much better or pretty much on par with the basic Canadian (such as a Canadian Club Classic) or American blended whiskys
just throwing this fact out there:
a review is someone's opinion, not a written fact, whether he likes more a Chivas then a Blue Label is none of our concern
I bought this for my dad once, not because it was the best Whisky available, but because the cardboard box was much easier to wrap than any bottle.
I wondered why you didn't add any water to this scotch so I tried it myself, let it sit for half an hour and....nothing. Does the grain whiskey prevent the malts from opening up?
Chivas Regal, and Johnnie Walker Black and waaay too good to add coke and ginger ale to! I just don't understand why the experts always say these 12yr old blends will primarily be used for mixing!!?? Supermarket own, Teachers, Bells JW Red are for mixing but JW Black?? If Its good enough for the Saudi Royal family and Christopher Hitchens then it good enough for me!!
And that sir, will likely be the only time someone makes a common reference to the Saudis and Hitchens!
JW Black goes with everything. Neat, on the rocks, with coke, straight from the bottle. Love the stuff.
He's not saying they should be mixed, he is saying the general masses that dont know what they are doing will mix it because it is widely available and relatively cheap and most people dont appreciate scotch.
wow, you placed grant's entry level above chivas 12.. i've tried both , i think grant lacks complexity just as this one here..
Ralfy I have found an old bottle of 12YO Chivas my father had stored for around 30 years (circa mid 1970s).. Would this one be much better quality than the current standard or have Chivas been consistent over the years?
Hi Ralfy,
it may be a simple question, but when it comes to Blends, would you generally prefer those with age to those with no age indicated? E.g. the Chivas 12 to the Famouse Grouse or the Ballentines with no age? I love Single Malts, but now I'm starting to enjoy Blends as well.
Thank you for the review. Sadly, I didn't watch this before buying a 1.14 L bottle over a 12 yo Glenfiddich. Blended wiskeys cannot be compared to single malts.
+Roderick Wolf There are some mediocre single malts and there are some good blends but it always pays to do your homework before putting your hand in your pocket. Let Ralfy be your guide.
The big advantage of single malts to my mind is the way they all have a unique character. It's a bit like the difference between listening to a string quartet or a large orchestra. There are some benefits to a big orchestra but it's hard to pick out the individual elements and can easily sound like a big mush. Blended whiskies often just taste like a big mush and are much less interesting for that reason.
I have never liked CR though. As was pointed out by another poster, it's grossly over-priced in the UK for what it is.
+Joshua Rosen It's the use of grain alcohol in blended whisky that makes it generally inferior to single malt. The nomenclature is intended by the industry to be a bit misleading. Makes you think the issue is one of blended vs. unblended/pure. The real question is: what is being blended? (Malted barley whisky vs. grain alcohol)
I have a bottle of 12 year old Chivas right now and having it with ice and in my opinion it tastes great.
great review as always! 5 stars for sure!
my question would be why is it ok for a blend to add e-150? 12 year old this means the single malt and grains are both 12 years + have they not picked up enough color from the wood in the 12 years?
bourbon never needs this because new oak char it always picks up enough color from that for an example.
Hello Ralfy! Just wanted to know, you have mentioned JW Black Label #1 Scotch Whisky in the world, Chivas Regal 12yo close 2nd and Grants Family Reserve 4th best selling scotch Whisky in the world! Which one is the 3rd beat selling scotch Whisky in the world? And have you reviewed it? Thank you!
Great review bravo will try this on weekend and howdy from Texas
Just purchased a small 35cl bottle of this because it was all that was available in a Spar that was open xmas day & I have to say i'm finding it rather bland.
Merry Christmas Ralfy.
Speaking of beer, Ralfy, what's your opinion of Mackeson's Triple Stout?
In my opinion Chivas Regal 12 year old isn't too bad I think I would probably rather have it over buying Johnnie Walker red chiveas Regal is really good on the arrival but on the Finish it is a little bit lacking but I would still rather have it rather than a lot of other blends
Glenfiddich is, by far the top single malt in its category, then followed by Glenlivet and Mcallan, 'morangie coming close. this in sales volume
Great job. I was given Chivas Royal 12 as a Christmas present by my brother and tried to follow your review doing it as you went through. I gave, and thus guessed from you, an 85/100, but who's counting?
He's consistent, average or high priced and branded names in fancy boxes and bottles get the same low average mark, this SHOWS that the PRICE DIFFERENCE is the advertising, the box and the status symbol...likely they are made from the same corporate jokes
Part 1 This New Year I was short on cash and ambition, I was invited by a friend for a quiet family dinner on the 31, they have two kids, just wanted to relax. Last time we got drunk on Bowmore and it was pretty heave the next day, so I decided to bring a bottle of Chivas for a smooth deluxe blend night over charcuterie and sallads. The biggest mistake I ever made! First we had a dram from a Chivas bottling from 2006, that my friend kept in his cabinet - it was lovely - well balanced...
hahaha are you off to get another bottle of the singlemalt to review ralphy :D
i knoticed you didnt pour much then...are you taking the hearse down he he..
chivas gives me the shiversssss it was nice of you to give it 83 ;)
I do not know which whisky or whisky's is used in the formulation of Drambuie but after drinking some Chivas for the first time I swear that's where I have tasted it before. Overall not too bad of stuff.
Excellent review! I am looking forward to this Saturday when I will be tasting CR18.
my grand mother just gave me an old bottle of chivas 12 with the same box design, i am trying to date it. any tips? im guessing its early 2000 but not sure
There is also a Strathisla Chivas 12 yo malt wich I tried some month ago and Wow what a lovely whiskey that was. Not that much smoke or peat, maybe a bit of the sweet side and that warmness it created down the throught it was incredible.
The Chivas 18 year old is really, really good in my opinion.
Can we see a re-review of this I got a bottle recently and it felt much more rough and it had a solvent like smell and taste. I had a bottle of this 9 years ago and I remember thinking it was great and smooth but now it feels like a different whisky altogether.
Well, let me tell you something, and this is a personal view of whiskey. Whiskey is a very mature drink. I can guarantee that many who like sweeter drinks like rum, if it is made properly, can like whiskey. There is always a slight bitterness, this is due to the malt itself. However, if you are a starter, I would sugest a single malt from either Old Pulteny or from Cooley. Old Pulteny has a wee taste of chocolate in it if you ask me and Tyrconell has a lovely jasmine finish and a rich malt aroma
5:50
What's the name of the sweet scotch Ralfy mentions - Straith Islay?
Is is called Strathisla. Cheers ;)
Hey Ralfy, I have a question for you. I'm 18, and have never really enjoyed liquor, but I also haven't been exposed to that many different kinds. I would really like to start getting into "Enjoying" a nice whisky or whisky blend every now and then. My question for you is: Have you always had a fondness for whisky/liquor in general? Or was it more of an acquired taste? I would really like to know. Thanks for the great videos!
a slowly growing fondness over time ! . . . never forced or rushed.
What a great video and channel! I will begin watching as many of these as I can. Maybe in a few years I will be an aficionado on alcoholic beverages : )
An excellent and thorough review
Cheers from all your Scotts-Irish friends in the US who take PRIDE in their heritage!
I'm greatly enjoying some Strathisla tonight in Japan. I've noticed that Tomatin is starting to make a strong presents in some of the major supermarkets here. I've read that it is a owned by a Japanese company. Any thoughts on this? At first sip I was immediately reminded of a blend, mainly Ballantine. It has a pretty strong and long lasting enjoyable aftertaste.
Had my first dram of Chivas today. Nothing to write home about but not bad either :)
I would keep this on hand as a mixer and company and keep the good stuff for myself ;)
hi @ralfystuff, is it true that the JW black label has more caramel thn chivas regal.. I noticed the glass that I left overnight of black label has brownish substance after it is dried. it isn't that obvious with the chivas.. correct me if I'm wrong
Hi Ralfy, What grades would you give Chivas Regal 18 Year Old and Johnnie Walker Gold Label?
lol I love the barely disguised disdain when he said "malibu" haha
@ralfystuff good point about blended's. Blended scotch is like a cheeseburger on the menu of an exotic retaurant. Its like a comfortable, safe choice. That bieng said this its my favorite blend for sure, i like it much better than Johnny
My favorite blend. Very easy to drink.
is the 18 an improvement? and i like chivas 12...
Mr. ralfy, discast some ideas how to findout what's fakes someother time. TYVM
Great review, I have never tried this blend, but now I think I'll give it a go.
Chivas regal is the best blended scotch. Refreshing and nice taste. no paint stripper taste like bad blended scotch like bells.
I see you're teasing me with that bottle of St George's new make behind you in your cabinet!
I know this review is old, but what region did you purchase your Chivas in? My box has different artistry/symbols. I live in Utah, in the US.
. . . bough it UK a few years ago, packaging has recently changed !
Hi good information !
i have question, is there a 30year old whisky ?
thank you .
Hi Ralfy.
enjoyin Chivas12 rite now!
Beautiful nose!
Any chance of a "grain spirit series" those 12yo grain spirits that contribute to the many many malt blends we all enjoy?? Thanks
@ralfystuff Thanks for that. May I ask, how long does it take to really develop a taste for Chivas or any Scotch so that it becomes more than just OK, but really truly wonderful? I see your passion for scotch, and I wonder, were you just born that way? Or is a Scotch lover made as well as born?
very nice whisky of chivas regal
maybe whyte and mackay or Grouse. Would be nice to think it was a single malt though, in which case it would likely be Macallan or Glenfiddich.
Obviously this is in the Scotch category or whisky.... But as far as world whisky is concerned, Jamesons, JD and Beam would certainly blow most scotch out of the water as far as sales are concerned.
Just picked up a small bottle of this. I like it. I enjoy it with ice an a little cola.
Hello Ralfy. I'm quite new to whisky and I found in my dad's cabinet a Chivas Regal 12y opened. that as been siting there since 1991. Did it do it any good or has it made it worst. I smell maple syrup and wood, a lot of wood. let me know what you think.
thanks. Very nice videos by the way. Very helpfull for newbies like me.
. . . it may be a bit woody/cardboardy to begin with but let it settle down in the bottle for a few weeks and you should see an improvement. Good luck !.
Thanks. and it you have a chance could you review Glenmoangie Nectar d'or. Thanks Again.
Ralfy! I just noticed that you had mentioned a future review of the glenburgie in this video. Are you still planning on reviewing one?
@ralfystuff
Originally Chivas Regal was sold as a 25 yo. When the brand became popular, Chivas had to drop the age down to 12.
What is your opinion on Royal Salute? Is it like chivas regal?