The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024 - Issue 35

DEWAR’S DOUBLE DOUBLE SERIES I n the whisky world, innovation and tradition often go hand in hand. Scottish whisky brand Dewar’s pushes the industry’s boundaries with its Double Double se- ries, representing a unique blend of distilling traditions from Scotland and Japan, bringing the best of both worlds together. Its longstanding reputation for crafting excep- tional Scotch whiskies started after it was founded by John Dewar in 1846. It remains true to its roots while continually seeking innovative ways to enhance its offerings. The name ‘Double Double’ is derived from the unique four-stage ageing process employed to create the whiskies. The method was developed by Dewar’s Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, involving double-ageing the whisky in different casks to impart a more profound complexity of flavours. The first stage is the initial maturation, where the whisky is aged in oak casks, a tradition in Scotch whisky production, allowing the spirit to develop its foundational character. The next stage is when the whisky is blended and returned to the oak casks for a second maturation period to refine it further and enhance its harmony and depth before it un- dergoes a final blending to ensure a balanced and consistent flavour profile. The whisky is finished in sherry casks, a nod to the traditional Spanish methods, adding a rich, fruity complexity to the final product. This meticulous process results in an exceptionally smooth, rich whisky layered with flavour. Dewar’s whisky-making techniques draw inspiration from Japan’s relatively young but rapidly growing whisky industry distilled traditions, which employ a meticulous blending process and use varied cask types to create complex and nuanced whiskies. The Scottish brand’s new dimension carefully selects the casks and the intricate blending meth- ods characterising their Double Double Series. By marry- ing these two distinct traditions, Dewar’s create a whisky honouring Scotland and Japan’s heritages. The Double Double Series include three expressions, a 21 Year Old, a 27 Year Old and a 32 Year Old, showcasing the whisky brand’s skilful blending and ageing processes. The first expression is known for its smoothness and complexity, imparting layers of dried fruit, honey, and spice, with the sherry cask finish adding a touch of sweetness and depth. It received the ‘World’s Best Blended’ and ‘Best Scotch Blend- ed’ at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards. The second offers a richer profile with dark chocolate, cara- mel, and a hint of smokiness notes balanced by the fruiti- ness from the sherry cask finish. It won gold for ‘Best Blend- ed Scotch Whisky’ in the International Wine and Spirits Competition two years in a row. The third, with deep toffee, oak, and dried fruit flavours, has a velvety smoothness that lingers on the palate. It received the IWC overall ‘World’s Best Whisky’ and ‘Best Blended Scotch Whisky’ for the third year at the 2021 International Whisky Competition. Dewar’s latest iteration has the Double Double 21 Year Old finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak casks. Different from its American counterpart, Mizunara Oak requires more than 200 years to reach maturity and does not grow straight, posing a unique challenge in the process of forming it into casks. Despite this, the extra effort is considerable as the liquid gives an intriguing balance of succulence, purity and smoothness, with the captivating amber-coloured whisky bottled at a strength of 46%. It features a balanced mix of tasting notes with subtle hints of sandalwood and coconut, contributing to a smooth mouthfeel. The finish leaves a sweet, clean taste with a touch of creamy vanilla. “The journey of creating this expression has been an exploration of flavours and craftsmanship,” Stephanie Macleod said. “Together, my team and I intro- duced a distinctive twist to our award-winning Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old by finishing it in Japanese Miz- unara Oak casks, creating a new and exciting whisky.” The Double Double Series’ successes highlight the poten- tial for future collaboration and innovations in the whisky world. As whisky lovers seek out unique and high-qual- ity products, distilleries will likely explore more ways to incorporate diverse influences into their creations. With Dewar’s commitment to excellence and innovation, we can expect more future groundbreaking releases enhancing ageing techniques, unique cask selections, or cross-cultural collaborations. Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara is availa- ble in 750 ml bottles at spirits retailers nationwide and on Dewar’s website. https://shop.dewars.com/collections/dewars-double-double bitedrinks