Scott, who has more flavours locked away in his brain than perhaps any master blender, used two very special malts for Chivas Regal 18 from the company�s famous line of distilleries in Speyside, Scotland: Srtathisia and Longmorn. �It was an enjoyable experience,� he says of his expriment in 1997. �I was creating a whisky in my mind. And comparing what was in my mind to reality. �

COLIN Scott is the master blender whose gold signature on the bottle assures drinkers of the new Chivas Regal 18 that what they are having is a masterpiece and great whisky that took experience, inspiration and patience creating. Chivas Regal, of course, is the most prestigious Scotch whisky in the world. Its Chivas Regal 12 is the premium Scotch of all time, almost every second there is someone opening a bottle somewhere, that�s how popular and enormous the reputation of this exceptional whisky is. But Chival Regal 18 is an intensely more rewarding and luxurious whisky. Scott, who is a good humoured, approachable and eloquent man who has been with Chivas Regal for 30 years, describes the two whiskies simply: �With Chivas Regal 18, you forget the stresses of the day, relax with a good cigar and friends, and let the evening float away. And with Chivas Regal 12, you enjoy yourself in a slightly different way, like, say, going to the bar and having an exciting time with friends.�

It took him a little over a year to create this unique whisky. It was a real challenge, given Chivas Regal�s reputation for superb whiskies, and its high quality and famously consistent flavour and character. It was not as simple as ageing the highly aclaimed Chivas Regal 12 for a further six years and bottling it.

The Chivas Regal 18 had to exhibit the Chivas Regal style, yet offer a different facet of personality. Scott, who has more flavours locked away in his brain than perhaps any master blender, used two very special malts for the purpose from the company�s famous line of malt distilleries in Speyside, Scotland: Srtathisia and Longmorn. �It was an enjoyable experience,� he says of his expriment in 1997. �I was creating a whisky in my mind. And comparing what was in my mind to reality. It�s like something you know... but yet don�t know.� The result was impressive, Chivas Regal 18 is an intense, dark amber whisky, with multi-layered aromas of dried fruits, spice and buttery toffee, and which has a velvety, dark chocolate palate with elegant floral notes and a wisp of sweet, mellow smokiness.

When introduced it immediately won a gold medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 1998. �Blended Scotch cannot get better,� said the American magazine Spirit Jounal. And Chivas Regal, in recognition of Scott�s achievement, has put the master blender�s signature on the bottle.

�A master blender�s job is creative, artistic and technical all at the same time. He must be able, using nose and palate, experience and memory, to assess and identify whiskies every day and to understand how they interact with each other,� Scott says. �Chivas Regal 18 is an unique whisky and I am therefore proud to put my initials and signature on every bottle.�

He will not admit to it being his favourite drink, however. �All whiskies have different tastes and I enjoy some more than the other. I also enjoy champagne, wine, sherry, tequila, I drink a lot of cocktails, I find ice cold beer delicious, but, hmnn, yes, I do believe that Scotch fills every corner of my mood,� he says.

And Colin Scott will not allow his skill and knowledge to dictate how Chivas Regal 18 or any other Scotch whisky must be consumed for best results. �Have it with soda, ice, or on the rocks. At the end of the day how you enjoy drinking your Scotch is what matters,� is his advice to drinkers everywhere.