StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
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body and a complex palate featuring sherry, honey and a hint of peat. • CHIVAS CENTURY OF MALTS — It com- bines 100 distinctive single malt whiskies produced from distilleries in every appella- tion throughout Scotland. The result is a complex, medium-bodied blend with a wonderful array of flavors. • CHIVAS REGAL 18-YEAR-OLD — The 18-year-old Chivas Regal is a melding of the 12-year-old Chivas Regal blend (with its character and intricate flavors) and the finesse and elegance of the 21-year-old Royal Salute. Smokier than the Chivas 12- year-old, the 18-year-old features a lush, full body and a complex ensemble of flavors with a long finish. • CHIVAS REGAL GOLD SIGNATURE — Comprised of more than 40 whiskies, all of which were barrel-aged at least 18 years. A special reserve blend that is aromatic and accessible. • CHIVAS REGAL ROYAL SALUTE — Royal Salute was released in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth (though it was introduced in 1891 by James Chivas). The youngest whisky used in its blend is 21-years-old. • COMPASS BOXWHISKY —Compass Box produces a full range of blended Scotches including Compass Box Hedonism, a 100% grain whisky aged between 12 and 23 years in American oak. The firm also produces Compass Box Peat Monster, a blend of super-peaty Islay single malts, a peated Speyside single malt and a malt matured in French oak from the northern Highlands. • DEWAR'S 12-YEARS OLD SPECIAL RESERVE — Dewar's Special Reserve is a blend of individually aged 12-year old single malt whiskies from the different regions of Scotland. The core of its blend includes the renowned malts of Dewar's Highland distilleries, notably Aberfeldy (Speyside), Lochnagar (Highlands), Benrinnes (Speyside), Pulteney (Highlands), Aultmore (Speyside), Royal Brackla (Highlands), Craigellachie (Speyside) and Glen Ord (Highlands). After blending, the whisky is further matured in oak barrels to allow the blend to "marry." • J & B ULTIMA — Superpremium Ultima, by Justerini & Brooks, is a blend comprised of 128 Scotch whiskies; 116 of them are single malts, with more than a quarter coming from rare, vintage reserves of distilleries no longer in operation. The constituent whiskies range in age from 8 to 20 years. Ultima has a soft, sweet bou- quet, a smooth, medium body with mild undertones of peat, and a clean, lingering finish. 30 • JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK LABEL — Launched in October 2011, Double Black is a heftier, bolder variation on classic Black Label. It features peatier malts and whiskies aged in deeply charred oak. The result is something akin to an Islay malt, only the peat smoke is slightly more subdued than most malts from the island. The nose is peaty with oak and spice notes and the palate features loads of fruit, vanilla and toasted oak. • JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL — Considered the flagship of the Johnnie Walker line, Blue Label is blended around a core of Cardhu single malt whiskies, some having been aged in sherry oak for up to 60- years. It has a reserved, yet elegant nose, warming and decidedly complex. Its palate has layers of delectable flavors, including oak, vanilla, peat, and luscious fruit that taper off seamlessly into a wholly satisfying finish. • JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL — This blend is made according to a 1920 recipe created for the company's 100th anniversary. It contains fifteen different 18- year-old single malt whiskies. Johnnie Walker Gold Label has a malty, slightly fruity nose, a medium body and is flawlessly textured and balanced. It has a waves a savory flavors, most notably fruit, oak, pepper, grain, and peaty smoke. The whisky finishes long and slightly sweet. • JOHNNIE WALKER GREEN LABEL — The mini- mum age of the malts in this blend is 15 years. It features a lush palate and Highland flavors along with hints of Island malts. • WHYTE & MACKAY SUPREME — Created in Glasgow by master blender Richard Patterson, Whyte & Mackay Supreme is a luxurious, 22-year-old blend twice barreled in sherry butts. The range also includes a regal 30-year blend. The Single Malt Phenomenon S ingle malts have a loyal consumer base, one that is particularly well heeled and diversified in age. The category's strength continues to be with men in the 40- to 50-year-old demographic. More often than not, these consumers purchase based on a recommendation from retailers or through their own discovery and research. This past year or so has featured the release of new and tremendously exciting malts, each nudging the enve- lope and expanding the horizon. So discard the notion of "best" as outdated and overtly subjective. Instead, line your shelves with genuinely intriguing whiskies. StateWays s www.stateways.com s March/April 2012