Skip to main content

Dewar’s Launches New Scotch Finished in Mezcal Casks

Dewar’s has long touted the fact that its whisky is “double aged.” This means that, after initial maturation, the whisky is blended and then goes back into barrels again for about six months to allow the flavors to marry. But recently the storied brand has been trying out some additional maturation processes. Last fall, Dewar’s launched a cask-finished expression of its whisky called Caribbean Smooth, an eight-year-old blend that was finished in rum barrels (which are at the ready in large supplies, considering the brand is owned by Bacardi). Next month, a new cask-finished blend will hit shelves called Ilegal Smooth.

This time, the eight-year-old blend is finished in Ilegal Mezcal casks (Bacardi owns a minority stake in Ilegal). While you might assume this would bring a great deal of smoke to the palate, it’s really only a wisp that curls around other flavors like caramel, butterscotch, and bright citrus. Overall, this is a nice sipping whisky that would also work quite well in a simple drink like a highball.

dewars ilegal smooth mezcal barrel aged scotch
Dewar's

There have been mezcal-finished whiskeys in other categories before this release. JJ Corry launched The Battalion last year, an Irish whiskey finished in mezcal and tequila casks. And Wigle Whiskey has its Oaxaca Rye that spent an entire year in mezcal barrels. But Ilegal Smooth would likely not have been allowed under previous Scotch Whisky Association rules. These regulations were actually not entirely specific about the type of casks that could be used for maturation, but in practice were mostly limited to bourbon and sherry casks.

Recommended Videos

An amendment was filed last summer which now specifically allows casks once used to mature tequila, mezcal, calvados, and other spirits to be used to finish scotch whisky. There are still some exceptions, per the SWA: “wine, beer/ale or spirits produced from, or made with, stone fruits; beer/ale to which fruit, flavouring, or sweetening has been added after fermentation; spirits to which fruit, flavouring, or sweetening has been added after distillation.” The intention here seems to be to keep the basic integrity and character of scotch intact, while allowing a wider range of cask finishes — which is something that large spirits corporations like Diageo have been seeking for some time now.

For Dewar’s, the timing of this change worked out well. “We had been thinking about the idea of a mezcal finish for a while, but at that time, the applicable legislation would not have allowed for this product to come into existence in the way you see it today,” said Dewar’s master blender Stephanie Macleod in an email. “Then, during our experimentation, the legislation happened to change and that is what allowed DEWAR’s Ilegal Smooth to come about… It’s an exciting time for the future of whisky and innovation. The new amendment opens up the use of cross-barrel aging to infuse new flavor into the liquid, while also adhering to the celebrated tradition of the flavor and quality that Scotch is known for.”

Ilegal Smooth will be available in April with an SRP of $22.

Jonah Flicker
Jonah Flicker is a freelance writer who covers booze, travel, food, and lifestyle. His work has appeared in a variety of…
Angel’s Envy is releasing a new cask strength bourbon finished in tawny port barrels
Angel's Envy's new csak strength bourbon was finished in unique barrels
Angel's Envy

Louisville, Kentucky-based Angel's Envy is a big name in the bourbon world. Well-known for its finished whiskeys, it's set to release a new, soon-to-be, highly-sought after expression finished in a unique barrel this month.

As a bonus, it's the brand's thirteenth annual Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which was finished in Port wine barrels. But instead of the classic finish fans are used to, this new expression is a Tawny Port wine-finished whiskey blended with the brand's traditional Ruby Port wine-finished whiskey.
Angel's Envy Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels

Read more
Lost Lantern is launching a new line of single cask whiskeys
Lost Lantern is releasing four unique expressions
Lost Lantern

Lost Lantern is an independent bottler of American whiskey located in Vermont. This award-winning brand is about removing any stigma surrounding the term "sourced whiskey." Their goal is to find complex, unique, noteworthy whiskeys and release them as single-cask expressions or blends. They've worked with more than 30 different distilleries to release limited-edition whiskeys.

Recently, the brand announced not only one new expression but a whole collection. Its Fall 2024 Collection features a 10-year-old bourbon, two 10-year-old rye whiskies, and an almost 10-year-old American single malt whiskey. These four expressions are the oldest whiskeys the brand has ever released. Each release is non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength.

Read more
Bladnoch Distillery is launching a new line of peated Scotch whiskies
Fans od Islay single malts will love these new expressions from Bladnoch
Bladnoch

There are more than 100 whisky distilleries currently operating in Scotland. Even with that many, a handful of brands get all the attention. So, it won’t surprise us if you’ve never heard of Bladnoch Distillery. But if you enjoy peated whiskies, Scotland’s southernmost distillery has a new line of expressions for you.
The Bladnoch 2024 Peated Collection

It’s called the Bladnoch 2024 Peated Collection, and this selection of Lowland single malt whiskies is perfect for fans of Scotch whiskies like Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig.

Read more