🥃 Dewar's
Dewar's is a Scottish blended whisky of the Dewar family: it began in Perth in 1846, Aberfeldy followed in 1898 and White Label in 1899. Bacardi has owned it since 1998; White Label is 40% ABV (80 proof).
Dewar's is one of the best-known blended Scotch whiskies, made by John Dewar & Sons, the Dewar family firm. Its beginning is dated to 1846, when John Dewar opened a wine and spirits business in Perth. Since 1998 the brand has been owned by Bacardi, and White Label, which leads the range, is 40% ABV (80 proof), with Aberfeldy malt whisky at the heart of the blend.
History. John Dewar at first bought whisky from other distilleries and blended it. After his death in 1880 his sons John Alexander and Tommy carried on the business. According to Difford's Guide, Tommy Dewar built the brand's name around the world through his travels and marketing, and in 1893 the company received a royal warrant from Queen Victoria. The Aberfeldy distillery was built in the late 19th century and opened in 1898, and White Label followed in 1899. In 1925 Dewar's joined Distillers Company, later United Distillers and Diageo, and in 1998 Bacardi bought the company.
How it is made. It is a blend of malt and grain whiskies; Difford's Guide calls White Label light in style, with the influence of Aberfeldy. According to the brand's website, the Select Premium versions have a two-stage ageing, and the Double Double Collection (21, 27 and 32 years) a four-stage one.
Range. Besides White Label there are 12-, 15- and 18-year-old versions, Scratched Cask, Highlander Honey and Caribbean Smooth, which is matured in rum barrels.
Why it matters to you. White Label carries no age statement, but Scotch must spend at least 3 years in oak and be at least 40% ABV. The age on the label of the older versions corresponds to the youngest whisky in the bottle. And remember: according to the WHO, there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1846, John Dewar, Perth; Aberfeldy 1898; White Label 1899 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), Blended Scotch Whisky |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | malted barley and grain whisky; the heart of the blend is Aberfeldy |
| Cask type | oak barrels; Select Premium has two-stage ageing, Caribbean Smooth is finished in rum barrels |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; White Label has no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (White Label) |
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Bacardi Limited
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Chivas Regal, 🥃 Canadian Club, 🥃 Canadian Club, 🥃 Royal Stag, 🥃 Royal Stag, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Dalwhinnie, 🥃 Dalwhinnie
Frequently asked questions
Is Dewar's spelled whisky or whiskey on a Scotch label?
Scotch is always whisky without the e, while Irish and American producers usually add one.
Does a US bottle of Dewar's show proof as well as ABV?
US labels often print both. Forty percent ABV is eighty proof, one strength written two ways.
What does the age on a Dewar's 12, 15 or 18 mean under UK rules?
It names the youngest whisky in the bottle. The entry bottle has no age statement, but Scotch must still spend three years in oak.
Is Dewar's still owned by Diageo?
No. Bacardi bought John Dewar & Sons in 1998, after the firm had passed through Distillers Company and Diageo.
Is a highball a normal way to drink Dewar's in a UK or US bar?
Yes. Neat, on ice or topped with soda in a tall glass are all familiar serves for blended Scotch.
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
🥃 Buchanan's · 🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Aultmore · 🥃 Macduff · 🥃 Craigellachie · 🥃 Aberfeldy
⚠️ 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
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Dewar's (1846 Perth, John Dewar; Aberfeldy 1898; White Label 1899; DCL 1925; Bacardi 1998; range)
- Difford's Guide: Dewar's White Label Blended Scotch Whisky (Bacardi; 40 %; Aberfeldy-led blend; created 1899)
- Difford's Guide: John Dewar and Sons (1846; Tommy Dewar; Royal Warrant 1893; Aberfeldy 1898; Bacardi 1998)
- Dewar's (brand site): range and ageing (12, 15, 18; Double Double 21-32; two-stage ageing)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)