Review: Chivas Regal Extra
Chivas? Yes, Chivas! And the brand is back with its first new blend in the U.S. in eight years: Chivas Extra.
Extra is made from Chivas’s collection of traditional malts and grain whiskies — including Strathisla single malt — that is finished in Oloroso sherry casks. The resulting spirit, positioned as a step up from the $25 Chivas 12 Year Old, is a surprisingly fun expression of Chivas Regal, distancing itself from the brand’s austere image through the use of the wine barrel finishing. (That said, Extra is bottled with no age statement.)
On the nose, it’s a bit hard to parse at first: It’s woody, with notes of brown butter, baked apples, tangerines, graham crackers, a little Mexican chocolate, and ample malt. The nose ultimately congeals all of this into a bit more cohesive experience, starting with huge cereal notes then layering on notes of sugary tinned fruit, (very) ripe banana, sandalwood, and a bit of cinnamon. The body isn’t heavy or oily, but it does have a chewiness that gives it an interesting grip on the palate. All told, it’s a solid blend, and something worth sipping on at least once if for no other reason than to remind yourself that Chivas is still hard at work.
Available now in major U.S. metros. Expanding to the rest of the U.S. later this year.
80 proof.
B+ / $40 / chivas.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
Chivas Regal Extra
$40
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Was thinking of getting this for a anniversary gift for my husband… But only a B+… might have to reconsider… :0
Jeannette, Hard to do much better than a B+ for $40. A friend of mine was just telling me how much he enjoys this bottle. I’ve never tried it, but while I don’t like the Chivas 12, I do like the 18. This is apparently positioned between the two.