Country: Scotland
Brand: Chivas Regal The Century of Malts
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol: 43%
Colour: Golden Sunlight
Nose: Sweet with Sherry, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, slightly Burnt Toast, Honey, Marzipan, Watermelon flavoured Chewing Gum, Toffee, Oak, Baking Spices, Dry Earth, Straw and Orange Peel. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. The Nose is balanced but also rather simple considering that there are a 100 Single Malts reunited in this Blend.
Taste: Acceptable Delivery. Sweet, Fruity and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Toffee, light Sherry, Heather, Honey, light Smoke, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg and Orange. It's difficult to pinpoint the Fruit but it tastes a bit artificially like Fruit Flavoured Chewing Gum.
Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet, Fruity and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, light Smoke, Oak, Orange, Menthol and a hint of Espresso Coffee.
I added a bit of Water and you get a bit more Smoke, Spices, Orange and a hint of Leather on the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish you find more Fruit and Toffee and a hint of Licorice. Try it out both ways!
Rating: 83
Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21
General Remarks: This unique Blend was launched in 1995 and contains 100 different Single Malts from the Highlands, Speyside, the Islands and the Lowlands. At the bottom of this post you will find a list with all participating Distilleries. The Century Malt will be difficult to find at the moment and you can expect to pay around 250 US Dollar.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: The Century of Malts is a good Blend. If only all Blends were like this! Still I feel a bit disappointed. I somehow imagined that a Blend of a 100 Different Single Malts from all the main Scottish production areas would create sheer magic. Instead I find the Century to be a slightly "common" blend of mainly Speyside- and Highland Malts with an understated Islands component. It's got balance but it misses depth and complexity. The Fruit Aromas and Flavours are a bit artificial. When the Blend was launched in 1995 it was sold at around 60 US Dollars and that was certainly a reasonable price. But I would not advise you to spend 250 US Dollars on the Century. For that kind of money you can find yourself a very nice Singe Malt or two!
Jan van den Ende September 21, 2014
Below you will find the 100 Distilleries that contributed to this unique Blend. You will find quite a few that don't exist anymore. As Chivas is one of the most successful Blending companies worldwide, it always possesses large quantities of Malt Whisky from lots of Distilleries to be able to maintain their desired Aroma and Flavour profile. Here we go:
Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Allt-A-Bhainne, Ardbeg, Auchentoshan, Auchroisk,
Aultmore, Balblair, Balmenach, The Balvenie, Banff, Ben Nevis, BenRiach,
Benrinnes, Benromach, Blair Athol, Bowmore, Royal Brackla, Braeval, Brechin,
Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Caperdonich, Clynelish, Convalmore, Cragganmore,
Craigduff, Craigellachie, Dailuaine, Dallas Dhu, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Deanston,
Dufftown, Fettercairn, Glen Albyn, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glencadam, Glen
Craig, Glen Elgin, Glenesk, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, GlenGarioch,
Glenglassaugh, Glen Grant, Glengoyne, Glenisla, Glen Keith, Glenkinchie,
Glenlivet, Glenlochy, Glenlossie, Glen Mhor, Glen Moray, Glenrothes, Glen
Scotia, Glen Spey, Glentauchers, Glenturret, Glenugie, Glenury Royal, Highland
Park, Imperial, Inchgower, Inchmurrin, Inverleven, Isle of Jura, Kinclaith,
Knockando, Ladyburn, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Linkwood, Littlemill,
Longmorn, the Macallan, Macduff, Mannochmore, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Mosstowie,
Ord, Pittyvaich, Pulteney, Rhosdhu, Scapa, Speyburn, Springbank, Strathisla,
Strathmill, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Teaninich, Tomatin, Tomintoul, Tormore and Tullibardine.