Dewars
Dewar's is one of the world's best-known blended Scotch whisky brands, tracing its roots to a wine and spirits merchant business founded by John Dewar in Perth, Scotland, in 1846. The brand rose to international prominence under John Dewar's sons, John A. Dewar and Thomas 'Tommy' Dewar, who transformed the family firm into a global name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Known for its smooth, approachable house style, Dewar's blends malt and grain whiskies and is closely associated with its signature 'White Label' expression. Today the brand is owned by Bacardi and remains a mainstay on liquor store shelves and in bars worldwide.
Dewar's is one of the world's best-known blended Scotch whisky brands, tracing its roots to a wine and spirits merchant business founded by John Dewar in Perth, Scotland, in 1846.
Read more about Dewars
Dewar's is one of the world's best-known blended Scotch whisky brands, tracing its roots to a wine and spirits merchant business founded by John Dewar in Perth, Scotland, in 1846. The brand rose to international prominence under John Dewar's sons, John A. Dewar and Thomas 'Tommy' Dewar, who transformed the family firm into a global name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Known for its smooth, approachable house style, Dewar's blends malt and grain whiskies and is closely associated with its signature 'White Label' expression. Today the brand is owned by Bacardi and remains a mainstay on liquor store shelves and in bars worldwide.
History and Heritage
The Dewar's story began in 1846 when John Dewar Sr. established his merchant business in Perth. His sons expanded the company dramatically: Tommy Dewar became a pioneering marketer who traveled the globe promoting the whisky, while John A. Dewar managed operations at home. Their efforts helped make Dewar's a household name and earned the company royal warrants.
A key figure in the brand's identity was Aeneas Coffey and later master blenders who shaped its consistent style, most notably A.J. Cameron, credited with developing early blending techniques for the house. The Aberfeldy distillery, founded by the Dewar family in 1898 in Perthshire, became the spiritual home of the brand and produces the single malt that sits at the heart of many Dewar's blends.
In the modern era, Dewar's has been owned by Bacardi since 1998, which has continued to invest in the brand and expand its lineup while maintaining its heritage and blending traditions.
House Style and Production
Dewar's is a blended Scotch whisky, meaning it combines single malt whiskies with grain whiskies from multiple distilleries. The Aberfeldy single malt provides a honeyed, mellow character that is central to the brand's smooth profile.
A distinctive feature of Dewar's production is its 'double aging' process, in which the finished blend is married together in oak casks for an additional period after blending. This extra step is intended to create a smoother, more harmonious final whisky, and it is a hallmark the brand emphasizes across its range.
The result is generally an easy-drinking, balanced style with notes of honey, vanilla, orchard fruit, and a soft, approachable finish, making Dewar's popular both for sipping and for mixing in cocktails.
The Range and What to Expect
Dewar's White Label is the flagship, entry-level blend and the brand's most widely available expression—versatile, smooth, and a common choice for highballs and cocktails. Above it, the range includes age-stated blends such as Dewar's 12 Year Old ('The Ancestor'), Dewar's 15 Year Old, Dewar's 18 Year Old, and the premium Dewar's 25 Year Old.
The brand has also released cask-finished and specialty expressions, including its Double Double series and various finishes such as Caribbean rum cask and other wood-finished blends, aimed at enthusiasts seeking added complexity. Availability of these limited or specialty bottlings can vary.
When buying, White Label is a reliable everyday and mixing whisky, while the aged expressions offer progressively richer, more layered profiles suited to neat or on-the-rocks sipping. Check the individual product listings for current age statements, ABV, and bottle sizes.