The Balanced And Budget-Friendly Scotch Whisky Beginners Should Never Overlook

In a world of posh tastings and zillion-dollar whisky auctions, it's easy to forget that Scotch is something to be savored, discovered, and explored. Some new Scotch drinkers ignore tried-and-true brands for newer or flashier alternatives, but many not-so-high-profile whiskies have been enjoyed for decades for good reason. One affordable, well-established expression beginners often overlook is Chivas Regal 12 Year blended Scotch whisky. Some see it as too mellow, not sophisticated enough, or too stodgy, but it's a serious whisky with a long heritage for a good price. Plus, it works particularly well in cocktails.

Chris Walster from The Cask Connoisseur told Chowhound about the best Scotch whiskies for beginners: "Chivas Regal 12 Year is a good example of why beginners shouldn't overlook blended Scotch. It is soft, fruity, and honeyed, with a balanced profile that makes it very approachable." While "approachable" can be a divisive descriptor, there's certainly space for an easy-drinking blended Scotch amidst the maelstrom of big, peat-driven single malts and overproofed hazmat bourbons.

In fact, approachability was always the intention when Chivas Brothers Limited launched its 12-year bottling in 1938 for the U.S. market. Today, it's the brand's flagship expression the world over. On the nose, it's slightly sweet, with tons of toffee, vanilla, and caramel. On the palate, it both opens and closes with banana, apricot, and vanilla custard, plus a peppery finish — pretty much what you're looking for in an easy-drinking blended whisky. And even as Scotch whisky prices have ballooned over the past decade, you can still find Chivas Regal 12 Year for $30 to $40, depending on where you shop. 

To be clear, this is a blended Scotch whisky — not single malt, and not Bourbon whiskey with an e. As with Dewar's or Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal 12 Year is made from multiple malt and grain whiskies from several distilleries. Often, the goal of blending is to create a softer, more balanced spirit than the bolder characteristics often associated with single malts, such as smoke, peat, sherry, or chocolate. Influencing that softer nature even more is Strathisla, the 240-year old anchor distillery for Chivas Regal Scotch. It's located in the Speyside region of the Scottish Highlands. The area is also home to single malts like The Glenlivet and The Balvenie. In general, Speyside whiskies are gentler, fruit-forward spirits with distinctive heather-and-honey notes (though there are exceptions).

All this to say that if you've been under the impression that Chivas Regal 12 Year isn't worth your time, take another look. The brand began with a 25-year expression, considered one of the first "luxury" whiskies. But the Chivas Brothers themselves were selling, then making whisky by the mid-19th century, so there's lots of history there. And while it may not be the most complex sipper neat, it's a respectable cocktail whisky in highballs or drinks like the Rob Roy. If that's not enough for you, consider that Chivas Regal was Frank Sinatra's favorite Scotch.