Chivas Regal

The history of Chivas can be traced back to Aberdeen and 1801 when brothers James and John Chivas opened a grocery store selling and sourcing luxury goods. Success followed (including a royal warrant in 1842) and by 1850 their wealthy clientele were demanding richer and smoother spirits. They began to blend whiskies to create a house whisky, the precursor to what we know now.

In 1909 a 25 year was produced for the American market, often seen as the first luxury whisky and the brand found great success up until prohibition. Relaunched as a 12 year after the 2nd World War. Seen as a fashionable brand, which was in large part due to an association with Frank Sinatra and other members of the Rat Pack, the future quality of the brand was assured with the acquisition of Strathilsa, the distillery that contributes much of the base malt to the Chivas blend. Currently owned by Pernod Ricard, the luxury element of the brand is perhaps most defined by the Royal Salute bottling, launched in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth's coronation and taking it's name from the 21 gun salute. As such this whisky is aged for a minimum of 21 years.