Reviewing a product that lacks disclosed information can either be a fun exercise or an utter slog. Sometimes the few bread crumbs available are enough to spark a curiosity worth exploring; other times, they just leave you with a grumbling appetite. In the case of a product like Dewar’s 15-Year, it’s much more the latter. Perhaps it’s appropriate then, that I went into this review intending it to be one of my short-format posts. 

So what’s there to say about Dewar’s 15-Year before digging into how the whisky tastes? For all intents and purposes, it’s a slightly older, age-stated version of Dewar’s 12-Year, itself being similar to the NAS white label most of us are familiar with in some capacity. The primary distinction that Dewar’s emphasizes in their branding is a “double maturation” process, where they age their many malt and grain whiskies for the age-stated period before blending and aging them together again for a second period. This initial maturation takes place in a combination of ex-boubon and ex-sherry casks while the secondary aging presumably occurs in undisclosed, re-charred barrels. 

These steps precede bottling at an approachable 40% ABV for about $40-$50 retail. How well does it stand up? 

Nose: Honeycomb, Pear, Apple Pastry, Vanilla

Balanced, Approachable, Simple

Palate: Honeyed Tea, Baked Apple, Vanilla, Cinnamon Sugar,

Silky, Easygoing, Watery

Finish: Caramel, Cream, White Tea, Honey

Light, Delicate, Warm

Everything about Dewar’s 15-Year screams modesty. The barebones details on it lead to modest expectations, which are met with a modest level of enjoyment. On one hand, I’m inclined to say that I like this scotch and almost want to regard it as a slept on product. However, for $40 (if not more), I think the overall experience comes out a bit short. It’s not nearly enough to make a serious note of, but when I’m looking at scotch options in the $40-$50 range, I know I can find bottles with far more personality than this. 

When all is said and done, Dewar’s 15-Year is a simple and plainly effective scotch. There’s absolutely nothing off-putting about the whisky and, as a product, it feels intended for casual drinkers who want to stick within their comfort zone, but maybe get something slightly elevated. I have no qualms with a product like this and, truth be told, there’s something comforting about a product line with a mostly straightforward line of progression.