Chivas Regal has spent decades convincing the world that blended Scotch is worth taking seriously, and the Extra 13 Year Old range is arguably where that argument lands hardest. This sherry cask expression sits at a curious intersection — old enough to carry genuine depth, priced accessibly enough that you won't agonise over mixing it, and finished in a way that gives it a distinct identity within a crowded portfolio. At £36.25, it's competing directly with entry-level single malts, which tells you something about how Chivas sees the market shifting.
The Extra 13 range was Pernod Ricard's answer to a straightforward problem: blended Scotch was losing ground to single malts among younger drinkers who wanted a story, a hook, something beyond 'smooth.' The sherry cask finish gives them exactly that. It's a marketing play, certainly, but one backed by genuine cask influence — thirteen years of maturation with that sherry wood doing real work on the final character.
What you're getting here is a whisky that leans into richness without becoming heavy. The sherry cask maturation pushes this firmly toward dried fruit territory, with a warmth and roundness that the standard Chivas 12 simply doesn't achieve. There's a nuttiness to it, an almost autumnal quality that makes it feel like a whisky with more on its mind than simply being inoffensive. At 40% ABV, it's not going to set your palate on fire — this is a blended Scotch pitched at accessibility — but within those parameters, the sherry influence gives it genuine character.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specifics I can't confirm, but the sherry cask signature is unmistakable here. Expect dried fruit sweetness, a touch of spice, and that characteristic oloroso warmth that rounds out the blend's grain component. The 13-year age statement means the rougher edges have been smoothed away, leaving something that drinks older than many whiskies at this price point.
The Verdict
At £36.25, this is quietly one of the better value propositions in blended Scotch. The sherry cask finish isn't just a label gimmick — it fundamentally changes the drinking experience from the standard Chivas profile. Is it going to convert committed single malt drinkers? Probably not. But that's not the point. This is a whisky that does exactly what it sets out to do: deliver genuine complexity and warmth at a price that doesn't require justification. The 13-year age statement is a smart move too — it signals maturity without the premium that comes with higher numbers, and in practice, it delivers. I'd take this over several single malts I've had at the same price. A 7.7 out of 10 feels right — it's a genuinely good whisky that overdelivers for its category and price bracket, even if it won't rewrite your understanding of what Scotch can be.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn after dinner, or — and I mean this sincerely — try it in a Rob Roy. The sherry cask sweetness plays beautifully with sweet vermouth, and at 40% ABV it won't bully the other ingredients. If you're serving guests who claim they don't like whisky, this with a single ice cube and a dried apricot garnish will change the conversation.
