Chivas Regal is one of the most established and respected brands of blended scotch whisky, with a history going back to the early nineteenth century. See whisky, scotch. The whisky started life as a house brand for a grocery store in Aberdeen, Scotland, that was established in 1801 and specialized in luxury goods, from coffee to Caribbean rums. James Chivas worked there and ultimately acquired the business in the mid-nineteenth century, and he eventually ran it with his brother John under the name Chivas Brothers. The business started producing its own blended whisky, using casks that James Chivas had laid down in the cellar. While the brothers passed away—John in 1862, James in 1886—the business continued on as Chivas Brothers.
In 1909, Chivas Brothers introduced Chivas Regal 25 Year Old, a whisky “designed to woo the high societies of the United States,” according to Scotchwhisky.com. The business was severely impacted by Prohibition (although the brand was one of the highest-priced spirits on the American black market), but in the post-Prohibition era, Chivas relaunched in the United States with Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, which went on to become a global icon. Chivas Brothers was later acquired by Seagram in 1949 and then by Pernod Ricard in 2001. See Seagram’s and Pernod Ricard. Throughout the years, the brand has expanded its portfolio with a series of ongoing and limited releases, including Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Gold Signature, Chivas Regal 25 Year Old Original Legend, Chivas Regal Extra, and Chivas Regal The Icon. As of 2015, Chivas Regal ranked as the third-best-selling scotch whisky brand.
“Chivas Regal.” Scotchwhisky.com, https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/2340/chivas-regal/ (accessed February 24, 2021).
Chivas Regal website, http://www.chivas.com/en/int/ (accessed February 24, 2021).
Hopkins, Amy. “Top 10 Best-Selling Scotch Whisky Brands”. The Spirits Business, June 22, 2015. http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/06/top-10-best-selling-scotch-whisky-brands/9/ (accessed February 24, 2021).
By: Charles Passy