Type Scotch whisky Country of origin Scotland Proof (US) 80 | Manufacturer Chivas Brothers Introduced 1801 | |
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Variants 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old, 25 year Old | ||
Chivas Regal /ˈʃɪvəs ˈriːɡəl/ is a blended Scotch whisky produced by Chivas Brothers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. Chivas Regal traces its roots back to 1801. Chivas Regal's home is Strathisla distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland, the oldest operating Highland distillery, which was founded in 1786.
Contents
- Chivas Regal line
- History
- Strathisla distillery
- Chivas Regal as a sponsor and in popular culture
- Critical acclaim
- References
It is the market-leading scotch whisky 12 years and above in Europe and Asia Pacific. Chivas Regal sales grew by 61 per cent between 2002 and 2008. In global terms, Chivas Regal recorded volume sales of 4.9 million nine litre cases in 2012 and 2013 but sales have decreased steadily since, dropping to 4.4 million cases in 2015.
Chivas Regal line
History
Chivas Brothers traces its roots to the opening of a grocery store at 13 King St, Aberdeen in 1801. The store sold luxury foodstuffs such as coffee, exotic spices, French brandies, and Caribbean rums to a wealthy clientele. In 1842, Chivas Brothers was retained to supply provisions to the royal family at Balmoral Castle upon Queen Victoria's first visit to Scotland.
In 1843, Chivas Brothers was granted a Royal Warrant to supply goods to Queen Victoria. The May 8, 1890 edition of Scotland Magazine described Chivas Brothers as "undoubtedly the finest purveying business in the north of Scotland".
During the 1850s James Chivas decided to respond to his affluent customers' demands for a smoother whisky, by beginning to blend whiskies to create a blend proprietary to Chivas Brothers. The firm's first blended Scotch whisky, Royal Glen Dee, was launched, followed in the 1860s by a second proprietary blended Scotch whisky, Royal Strathythan.
In the early 1900s, Chivas Brothers decided to create its most aged blended Scotch whisky to export to the U.S, where the booming economy after the turn of the century was fueling demand for luxury goods. The whisky was named Chivas Regal.
Chivas Regal 25 Year Old was launched in 1909 as the original luxury Scotch, and became a leading brand in the U.S. Chivas Regal continued its success until Prohibition in the 1920s.
Chivas Regal was purchased by Seagrams in 1949, which enabled a much wider distribution and marketing system.
In 1950, the company Chivas Brothers was able to buy the Strathisla Distillery, which produces the Strathisla single malt whisky used in the Chivas Regal blend.
Chivas Regal was re-launched as Chivas Regal 12 year old in the US following the disruption of both Prohibition and World War II. Chivas became a fashionable brand of the era, and became associated with Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. Chivas Regal was the Scotch whisky requested by Sinatra, along with other spirits brands backstage at performances, and Chivas sponsored Frank Sinatra's Diamond Jubilee Tour in 1990.
In 1997, the Chivas Regal range was expanded with the launch of longer aged whiskies, with the launch of Chivas Regal 18 year old, and in 2007 with the launch of Chivas Regal 25.
Chivas Regal was acquired by Pernod Ricard following a joint bid on Seagram Spirits & Wine in December 2000 by Pernod Ricard and Diageo.
Strathisla distillery
The home of Chivas Regal and location of its visitor centre is located at the Strathisla distillery. The distillery was founded in 1786, and is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, located in Speyside. The Strathisla distillery is owned by Chivas Brothers, and Strathisla single malt is one of the malt whiskies used within the Chivas Regal blend. Strathisla single malts have a natural sweetness and help to define the taste of Chivas Regal.
Chivas Regal as a sponsor and in popular culture
Father Dyer brings this whiskey for Father Karass to drink after the death of his mother in the film The Exorcist (1973), they share it and he remarks “Chivas Regal!” “ Where'd you get the money for it—out of the poor box?”
Within the first six minutes of the film The Spook Who Sat By the Door (1973), the top 10 African American candidates for the CIA "spook" position toast to their success to that point, and one notes the Chivas Regal they are drinking costs $3.
In 2008, Chivas Regal launched a new global advertising campaign, to run across all continents. "Live with Chivalry" was created by the Euro RSCG advertising agency. The campaign features TV, press, and outdoor advertising.
Chivas Regal also sponsored The Black Eyed Peas', Robbie Williams', Beyoncé's, and Christina Aguilera's tours in Asia.
Chivas Regal is also featured during the closing of the TV series Boston Legal.
Chivas Regal is featured in several episodes of the TV series Banshee, among many others episode 5, season 2.
In 2011, Chivas Regal sponsored The Asian Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sports Category.
In the Mad Men season 6 episode, "The Better Half", Ted Chaough compares Fleishchmann's margarine to Chivas Regal (because it's a relatively expensive brand of margarine), while Don Draper compares it to Ballantine Beer (because he compares margarine to butter).
In the Bollywood film Shahenshah the main villain JK drinks Chivas regal.
In Tom Waits' song "Downtown": "Drinking Chivas Regal in a four dollar room"
Author Hunter S. Thompson frequently mentions Chivas Regal as one of his favorite liquors throughout his works.
Webcomic Achewood has the cast frequently drinking Chivas.
In Only Fools And Horses Series 2, episode 3, A Losing Streak, first broadcast in 1982 Delboy asks for a 'Large Chivas Regal' at the bar to try and impress Boycie.
In the 2017 film, Passengers, the main protagonist, Jim Preston's drink of choice throughout the film is a variant of Chivas Regal.
Critical acclaim
Chivas Regal whiskies have performed well at international spirit ratings competitions. In 2013, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition jury awarded its Double Gold Medals to the Chivas Regal 18yr, 21yr and 25yr whiskies.