Dewar’s Double Double 21 Years / Arturo Fuente Don Carlos

46% ABV

Blended Scotch Whisky

Mizunara Oak Cask Finish

The Double Double 

Dewar’s has always gone out of its way to let consumers know that its whisky is “double aged for extra smoothness.” It’s a fundamental element of the brand, and the claim is made on the packaging of most of its products, from the inexpensive White Label all the way up to the 25 Year Old. Dewar’s double aging process was implemented by its first master blender, AJ Cameron, in 1881. Simply stated, it means that after distillation,new malt and grain whiskies are aged separately before the aged malt and grain whiskies are blended in to achieve the desired flavor profile. The whisky is then aged some more for “extra smoothness.” 

Over 140 years after Dewar’s first master blender developed the process, the company’s seventh master blender, Stephanie Macleod, has built upon it with a new 4-stage method they call “Double Double Aging.” The final stage of the process calls for marrying the double aged whisky in a cask that previously held a different spirit or wine. The Double Double series was initially released in 2019 with three expressions; a 21-year-old finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, a 27-year-old in Palo Cortado Sherry casks, and a 32-year-old matured in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. 

It didn’t take long for the whisky world to take notice. While the line has received many awards over the years, the Double Double 32-year was named “Whisky of the Year” during the 2020 International Whisky Competition, considered by many to be the most prestigious award given to a whisky. To win “Whisky of the Year,” the spirit must outperform whiskies from all over the globe; blended, single malt, bourbon, Irish, Japanese, all of them. And in the 2023 IWC awards, Dewar’s Double Double swept the “Best Blended Scotch” category with the 37-year-old taking 1st  place, the 21 taking 2nd place, and the 36 bringing in 3rd place. The distillery has been stockpiling awards in unprecedented fashion thanks to this innovation. 

Mizunara Oak 

After World War II, Japan found itself facing all manner of shortages and while obviously food and medicine topped the list of needs, whisky was not as far behind as you would think. Out of necessity, Japanese distillers and their respective cooperages began using their native Mizunara oak to make barrels. Eventually, more and more distillers outside of Japan began to implement Mizunara in their finishing practices but it’s not as simple as that. 

Mizunara translates to “water oak,” due to its high moisture content and highly porous nature. Casks built using this oak are often leaky and because they are so porous, a higher percentage of the spirit is lost to the “angel’s share” than a typical American or French oak barrel. It’s also much more expensive and difficult to work with. The Japanese oak grows in a winding, twisting manner, making the yield from each tree much lower than its American cousin, not to mention that the tree requires more than 200 years to reach maturity. In contrast, American white oak requires approximately 90 years to reach maturity. 

So why use it? Spirits aged in Mizunara require more aging time than other oak casks to impart the flavors that make it so coveted. Yet when done right, the results are not only superb and award-winning but easily identifiable by discerning consumers. 

Pairing by: Erik Calviño

Tasting Notes: Dewar’s Double Double 21 Years

With dried fruit and cedar notes jumping out of the glass on the nose, the Dewar’s begs you to drink it, but give it a second in the glass, and notes of caramel and spice join the party. The palate delivers a dry, oaky character accompanied by honey, spice, green apple, and a touch of vanilla. 

Cigar Pairing: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos is a classic blend that produces a medium-bodied core of cedar, sweet spice, and toasted almonds accompanied by a touch of cream. The Dewar’s Double Double 21 Mizunara heaps the oak, honey, and vanilla onto the smoke in a seamless way that makes you forget those notes didn’t come with the cigar.

This article appeared in the May/June 2024 issue. Subscribe today to get the magazine in your mailbox.

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