🥃 Buchanan's
Blended Scotch whisky of Diageo; according to the brand, James Buchanan launched the company in 1884; flagship DeLuxe 12 is 40% ABV (80 proof).
Buchanan's is a blended Scotch whisky brand of Diageo, named after James Buchanan, who according to the brand launched his whisky company in 1884. Diageo calls it its second-biggest Scotch whisky and the leading premium Scotch in Latin America. The flagship is DeLuxe, aged 12 years, at 40% ABV.
History. According to Diageo, James Buchanan started in shipping and emigrated to London, and travelling to the Americas showed him that flavour preferences differed from those at home. The brand says he sold his whisky from Scotland to London and Latin America, and that the original bottle was inspired by soldiers sharing water canteens; the Red Lion crest carries the words “Buchanan’s Scotland”.
How it is made. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Blended Scotch Whisky is a blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies, matured only in Scotland in oak casks of up to 700 litres for at least three years, at a minimum of 40% ABV. According to the brand, DeLuxe, originally called Buchanan’s Finest Liqueur, is aged 12 years and has a soft, fruity flavour with orange and chocolate notes.
Range. The brand lists DeLuxe 12, Master, Special Reserve 18 Years Old, Green Seal and Red Seal, as well as the flavoured versions Coconut and Pineapple; Diageo dates Pineapple to 2023.
Why this matters to you. This is a blend, not a single malt, so check the label for the version and its age. Flavoured versions are different products from the whiskies. According to the WHO, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1884, James Buchanan launched the company (according to the brand) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years by law; DeLuxe — 12 years, Special Reserve — 18 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (DeLuxe 12) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Buchanan's → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Latin America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Black & White, 🥃 Dalwhinnie, 🥃 Dewar's, 🥃 Johnnie Walker
Frequently asked questions
When was Buchanan's founded?
According to the brand, James Buchanan launched his whisky company in 1884.
Who owns Buchanan's?
Diageo.
Where is Buchanan's Scotch most popular?
Diageo calls it the leading premium Scotch in Latin America and the second largest Scotch brand across the Americas.
What is the ABV of Buchanan's DeLuxe 12?
40% ABV (80 proof); the whisky is aged 12 years.
Is Buchanan's a blended Scotch or a single malt?
A blended Scotch: under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, a blend of single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies, matured in Scotland in oak casks for at least three years.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and yeast, distilled in pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% ABV (80 proof in the US) or more. Not the same as single cask.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Dewar's · 🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Oban · 🥃 Dalwhinnie · 🥃 Vat 69
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Buchanan's (brand site): History of Buchanan's Whisky (James Buchanan launched his company in 1884; Scotland, London, Latin America; bottle design; Red Lion crest)
- Buchanan's (brand site): DeLuxe 12 Years (40 % ABV; originally Buchanan's Finest Liqueur; imported by Diageo) and range list
- Diageo: Buchanan's Blended Scotch Whisky (1884; Diageo's second-biggest Scotch whisky; leading premium Scotch in Latin America; De Luxe 12)
- Diageo: The Buchanan's Legacy, from 1884 to the FIFA World Cup 2026 (founder began in shipping and moved to London; Americas; second largest Scotch brand across the Americas; Pineapple 2023)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and Blended Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)