The Best Blended Scotch Whiskies

Created to highlight a more robust and smoky whisky as historically Glaswegians preferred this style. Glasgow Blend has a large (67%) malt base for a blend. Compass Box uses a combination of barrels for aging: 1st fill sherry, 1st and refill ex-bourbon, and a small amount of new French oak barrels. FKA Great King St. Glasgow Blend, the brand changed its name in 2021.

Ballantine's 17 Year is a blended Scotch comprised of malt and grain whiskies from various distilleries. Each is aged for at least 17 years, before the whiskies are blended together and bottled at 43% ABV.

Artist Blend is comprised of over 50% malt whisky from both the Highlands and Speyside. First fill ex-bourbon, first fill European oak sherry butts, and new heavily toasted French oak are all employed in the aging of this blend. FKA Great King Street Artist's Blend, the name was changed in 2021.

Chivas Regal is certainly a key player in the whisky industry and this 18 year Gold Signature, released for the first time in 1997, is one of the iconic products of the brand. The core spirit in the blend is the single malt Strathisla 18 Year, which is produced exclusively for this blend.

Chivas Regal Mizunara is a limited edition blended Scotch made with Japanese flair. Master Distiller Colin Scott was inspired to create this expression after a trip to Japan where he picked up a few whisky-making techniques. It's made with a blend of Scottish grain and malt whiskies, each aged at least 12 years. Part of the blend is aged in casks made from Mizunara (aka Japanese oak). Bottled at 40% ABV. It originally launched in October 2014 for the Japanese market, but it has since expanded to other markets.

Founded in 1848, Dewar's has grown from a small wine and spirit merchant shop in Perth, Scotland into a global brand.  This 18 year-old is first aged in American oak before being blended and refilled into an oak vat to be rested for an extended period of time. This allows all the flavors to marry its complex and nuanced flavors before being bottled at 80 proof.    

Crafted by Master Blender Stephanie Macleod, Dewar's Double Double 21 Year is a blended Scotch whisky which is aged in a "four stage aging process." The first step involves single malts and single grains which have been aged separately at least 21 years. Next, the single malts are blended together and rested in exhausted casks. This process is also done for the single grains. Then, the blended single malts and blended single grains are blended together and again rested in exhausted casks. Finally, the blended scotch finishes its maturation in sherry casks. For the 21 year, it is finished in ex-oloroso sherry.

Johnnie Walker Platinum has been rebranded and repackaged as Johnnie Walker 18 Year. Platinum was an 18 Year whisky, so nothing has changed apart from a new name and new look for the blended whisky. The fact that it is an 18 Year old whisky has just been given its proper prominence for the brand. Made from up to 18 different whiskies for the blend including whisky from Blair Athol, Cardhu, Glen Elgin, and Auchroisk. This is bottled at 40% ABV. (SRP $89.99 for 750ml)

Royal Salute 21 Year is an homage by Chivas Regal to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. At 21 years, it is also the youngest in the Royal Salute line-up. Why 21 years old you might ask? 21 is an important designation as it refers to the 21-gun-salute, for generations a form of honor and respect to sovereigns and dignitaries. Be aware that there are 3 different colors for the ceramic decanters (sapphire, ruby, and emerald), but the spirit is the same.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is blended with old and young whisky and from rare stock containing extinct distilleries. According to parent company Diageo, only one in 10,000 casks makes the cut for inclusion in the blend. Released in 1992, Johnnie Walker Blue has become one of the most recognizable and prestigious whiskies on the market. (SRP $249.99 for 750ml)