International Whisk(e)y Day – March 27

Who needs an excuse to drink whisk(e)y? Well with International Whisk(e)y Day just around the corner, you’ve now got two perfect reasons! And whisk(e)y is truly international anyway with India being the biggest producer, the French drinking more bottles of whisky than cognac, and cracking distilleries producing wonderful drinks such as Cardrona in New Zealand, Milk and Honey in Israel and Mackmyra in Sweden amongst many favourites. Name a country and whisk(e)y will either be consumed or produced in it. 

But what about those who are not so keen on whisky, is there a whisky drink for the non-whisky drinkers? We at The Cask Connoisseur think we’ve found it. Welcome to the Dewar’s Double Double range. The 21 year old was awarded the “World’s Best Blended” and “Best Scotch Blended” at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards and the 27 year old won gold for ‘Best Blended Scotch Whisky’ in the International Wine and Spirits Competition two years in a row. The 21 year old is reviewed here. But first let’s explain, or at least attempt to, the Double Double process which aims to produce very, very, smooth whisky. 

The ranges creator Stephanie Macleod, Dewar’s Master Blender since 2006, became the first women to win the “Master Blender of the Year” at the 2019 International Whisky Competition and went on to win it again in 2020. She clearly knows a thing or two about whisky. 

The Double Double range is created using a four stage ageing process. The malt whiskies in the blend are first aged to their required age, then they are mixed together and put back into an oak cask to “meld together”. Grain whisky to be used goes through the same process. 

Then the Malt and grain whiskies are blended together and are put back into oak casks for a secondary ageing period. Finally, the blend is finished in an ex-sherry cask. In effect you have an ageing process followed by a finishing process, then another ageing and finishing process, creating the Double Double.

This produces a whisky that quite honestly has no alcohol kick whatsoever, even at 46% ABV and feels incredibly smooth. Making it very suitable for either a novice whisky drinker or someone who believes they do not like whisky. Even a cask strength enthusiast will enjoy it. This is a whisky for when you just want to experience the flavours and an easy introduction to whisky. Everyone can enjoy it. 

Dewar’s ‘Double Double’ 21 Year Old Whisky 46% ABV £128

The team at The Cask Connoisseur really enjoyed this even the anonymous one who confesses to preferring Southern Comfort (you know who you are) over scotch whisky. If all blends tasted this good! The score is probably very conservative, and we suspect others would score it higher. The only negative is it is not from a single cask, but one suspects, if it was, the price would be astronomical. Despite the price, this is well worth the money, certainly if you have something to celebrate, or need something to keep you warm on a winter’s night. Although it probably would work just as well with a summer barbeque, we’ve not had the chance to try it. We recommend you buy a bottle, we’re pretty certain it will not be your last.