Blended Scotch Whisky - Dewar's
Dewar's, a brand of blended Scotch whisky, as opposed to a single malt, was founded by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. Under the guidance and leadership of his two sons, John A. Dewar Jr. and Tommy Dewar, the brand expanded on a global scale. Tommy Dewar, gifted with charisma and charm, was a large asset to the success of the brand. Spending 2 years traveling the world publicizing the Dewar's name, he became famous as an author with his personal journal recounting his travels titled Ramble Round the Globe. By 1896, Dewar's had grown and become a global brand, acknowledged by consumers and whisky enthusiasts all over the world. Dewar's eventually expanded their product by constructing the Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896, which produces single malt scotch whisky under the labels Aberfeldy 12 and Aberfeldy 21.
Master Blenders
A.J. Cameron was the first appointed Master Blender of the Dewar's brand. He was responsible for creating the Dewar's White Label blend whisky, which remains the most popular of all Dewar's brands. Cameron also pioneered the "marrying process" to further highlight and harmonise the blend whiskys. The marrying process occurs after the single malts have been aged for the appropriate time period. To achieve the true "Dewar's Blends" the malts are mixed together, but before they are bottled for sale, they are left to mix together more completely to ensure a harmonized aroma and flavor. The marrying process, or its other name the "double-ageing process," lasts approximately 3 months.
Tom Aitken has since retired in the summer of 2006, preceding the current Master Blender, but is responsible for creating the Dewar's 12 Blend Scotch Whisky and the Dewar's Signature blend. Tom Aitken worked for Dewar's for 25 years, with 20 of those years exclusively in the blending department. He began as a laboratory chemist at Inverhouse Distilleries in 1970 and had the responsibility of analyzing the new and mature spirits at the distillery.
Stephanie Macleod is the current Master Blender and one of few senior women on the production side of Scotch Whisky. She first came to work at Dewar's in 1998 where she was placed in chage of the Spirit Quality Laboratories at the company's head office in Glasgow. She has performed extensive research studying the maturation secrets of Scotch Whisky. Partnered with her extensive scientific knowledge and her impeccable sensory skills she was appointed to be the assistant blender under Tom Aitken, thus showing her the intricacies of the Master Blending job at Dewar's. [1]"
Distilleries
Aberfeldy is the home of the Aberfeldy 12 and Aberfeldy 21 single malt Scotch Whiskies. The distillery is located where Perthshire's highest mountain, deepest loch, and longest glen meet, and is historically and geographically the 'Heart of Scotland'.[2]
Aultmore is located in a remote part of the Speyside region of Scotland. This distillery was purchased by John Dewar from Alexander Edwards in the 1920s [3]. Around Aultmore, the Foggie Moss provides a water source for the distillery.
Craigellachie is located in the whisky region of Spey and was founded in 1891. It stands on a hill overlooking the Rock of Craigellachie, the River Spey and Thomas Telfords' single span Iron Bridge of 1815. The distillery uses a spring on Little Conval Hill as their water source.
Macduff is located in the Speyside whisky region of Scotland and was founded in 1962. It is located on the ancient River Deveron and the distillery pulls its water from the Gelly Burn. Whisky has been produced here for centuries, with records dating back to the 1700s.
Royal Brackla is located in the Highland region of Scotland and was the first distillery to receive a royal warrant. It is near Cawdor and Macbeth country. The distillery was founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser [4]. Royal Brackla draws its water from the Cowdor Burn.
Dewar's Products
Dewar's White Label was first created in 1899 by John Dewar & Son's first Master Blender, A.J. Cameron. It has proven to be the company's most popular blended Scotch Whisky over the past 100 years. [5]. A mixture of up to 40 single malt Scotch whiskies, the taste is characterized as "heather and honey.[6]"
Dewar's 12 is another blended Scotch Whisky that contains a mixture of different 12 year old malt and grain Scotch whiskies. Dewar's 12 brand was first created by Dewar's sixth master blender, Tom Aitken. This particular blend uses the "marrying process," which is an extra period occurring after the different blends from the various regions of Scotland have been combined. The blend sits in reserved oak casks, allowing the different flavours and aromas to harmonise in order to achieve the Dewar's 12 blend. A.J. Cameron first pioneered this technique of lengthening the resting process in order to truly homogenize the different qualities of the various whiskies within the different blends. The palate of this particular blend has been characterized as "rich, fruity sweetness...with a hint of oak.[7]"
Dewar's Signature is the product of more than 150 years of blending tradition and was first blended by Master Blender Tom Aitken. The core of this rare and matured blend is Aberfeldy Single Malt whisky, which has been aged beyond its years [8]. The Dewar's Signature undergoes the marrying process to finalize and homogenize its flavours. The palate is described as, "sweet and smooth with a full bodied creamy texture and mouth warming effect. [9]"
Aberfeldy 12 is part of the single malt collection of the Dewar's brand. First distilled in 1999 at the Aberfeldy Distillery by Tom Aitken. The blend has limited quantities and is considered the "heart of the Dewar's blends[10]." The palate has been described as 'heather and honey' with a sense of syrupy texture [11].
Aberfeldy 21 is a longer aged single malt whisky that further accents the palate and aromas of the Aberfeldy 12. Its palate boasts of lighter sensation with a long and dry finish. Vanilla, sandalwood, and seville oranges, have also been noted as flavours emerging from this single malt Scotch.