Bill-Shannon
Reviewed
November 29, 2020 (edited November 30, 2020)
A light orange honey color. Surprisingly leggy. For years I had assumed Chivas was a tequila, because Chivas sounds more like a Latin American name than a Scotsman's.
The nose is prickly white pepper, butterscotch and perfume that must come from the barrel. Vanilla fruit, dried. Fragrant garden flowers. Honey-covered candied apples. Candied orange wedge, like the kind you'd get out of the bulk foods section.
The flavor is stewed apple, vanilla and honey. Some ripe melon at the front. The butterscotch comes out with a little chew. The sherry in the barrels hit the back of the palate and add some depth. The perfume of flowers (jasmine?) burst out. An herbal spiciness, akin to cinnamon that was stepped on, to use street parlance.
The finish is mild tobacco and musty basement sawdust. It's got a pleasant, almond component. This blends nicely with some vanilla creme. Honeydew melon and kiwi. There is some barrel residue in the finish that reminds me of a mild brandy. Semi-sweet chocolate. A lingering spice burn lasts a long time.
Chivas 12 is not a complex Scotch, but it's almost preternaturally pleasant. At the right price it's a great go-to.
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