I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that most non-casual scotch fans don’t give Dewar’s much time nor thought. They’re incredibly popular, thanks in no small part to their NAS minimum viable product, which makes dismissing them that much easier. There are certainly other reasons for people turning up their noses at Dewar’s, from the gimmicky budget-friendly finished product line to the consistently low bottling strength and shaky overarching value proposition as you work through the brand’s portfolio. However, even lackluster names can pump out the occasional banger, a distinction that I hoped to find when trying one of the Dewar’s Double Double expressions.

This reduplication of a line name draws attention to how Dewar’s normally “double matures” their product by aging malt and grain whiskies apart before blending and aging them again. Dewar’s point to A.J. Cameron, the distillery’s original Master Blender, as the one who effectively created this double aging process. Current Dewar’s Master Blender and Director of Blending Stephanie Macleod introduced Double Double as a way to take this process to the next level with four stages:

• Age single malts and single grains
• Blend the malts and grains separately before aging agains
• Blend the malts and grains together, then continue aging
• Finish the blended, matured product

Since each version of the Double Double line (21, 27, and 32 years old) is meant to highlight certain flavor profiles, the finishing casks in the final stage vary. The 21-Year undergoes a final maturation period in Oloroso sherry casks and is ultimately supposed to emphasize elegant fruity and vanilla notes. Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year is touted as a “small batch” product (which means nothing without clarification), forgoes chill filtration and color additives, and is bottled at 46% ABV, the latter being a nice change of pace for a Dewar’s product.

One final note on the Double Double line is that Dewar’s offered each expression in both 375ml and 750ml bottles. This isn’t terribly common, least of all outside of 3+ bottle bundles of 375ml releases, but considering how much volume Dewar’s (and Bacardi, by extension) go through, they can likely offset the additional costs that come with creating smaller form factor releases. Regardless, I applaud them for taking this direction since it gives more people (yours truly) a way to try a higher aged and relatively unique product at a more feasible price point. Although I’ve seen bottles of the 21-Year go for around $75 and $125 for the 375ml and 750ml, respectively, I obtained a 375ml on clearance for a little over $40. Needless to say, the temptation was too strong. Now let’s see how much I like it.

Nose: Pungent, musty, and jammy. Comes to life with prune and molasses complemented by hints of tobacco. Raisin, blood orange, and dried dates each unfurl progressively, creating a rich, layered aroma that still feels concise.

Palate: Leans into the earthy end of the flavor spectrum, complete with a surprising presence of peat to play up the dried dates and molasses. Some reduced blackberry syrup and compote take hold as well, giving the whiskey more personality. I get more of a fruit-infused honey quality with subsequent sips.

Finish: The subtle touch of peat on the palate continues into the finish while tobacco and raisin take center stage, playing well with the mossy onset. A warm, building sherry influence hits a peak before abruptly falling off.

Some spirits “just work,” much as I hate using that line. Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year fits this description thanks to its comprehensive sherry-forward profile, which is complemented by an appropriate amount of supplementary notes. What immediately sticks out is how layered the darker fruit notes are, along with a generally musty essence that initially caught me off-guard, but soon coalesced into something complementary. I also welcome the mild level of peat on the palate, which shines on the finish, leading to a more earthy and tobacco-laden final impression. Really my only major critique is how anticlimactically this final part of the experience closes out. After the dark, dried fruits make their presence known, we transition to those warming humidor vibes (perfect for cooler weather) only for them to hit an apex and abruptly fall off.

Perhaps the most glowing endorsement I can give Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year is its value proposition. This contrasts my usual experience with the brand, since I often see comparable (if not superior) single malts for mostly similar prices. The fact a product with this age, quality, and experience can be found in a fifth for under $150 is worth commending. Sweetening the deal even further is the existence of 375ml bottles at a similarly competitive price point. I’m always in favor of small form factor bottles since they ultimately cost less, take up less space, aren’t as much of a commitment, and ultimately enable people to try more expressions. I know I wouldn’t feel as compelled to try this whisky if the 750ml was the only option, age per dollar be damned.

Taking the product as a whole, Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year has little to complain about. I’m not prepared to call it an outright impressive whisky, but for the asking price? I struggle to think of a better age-and-quality-to-value option. This is the first Dewar’s I’ve tried that feels intended for a more enthusiast-based audience, and I’m here for it.