Master blender Colin Scott: A blend apart

By David Ebert

According to Colin Scott – Chivas Regal master blender and creator of the luxury brand’s premium Chivas Regal 25-year-old Scotch whisky introduced recently to Sri Lanka, “You need to have passion for Scotch whisky; it’s a very good word to describe what it is that makes you want to become a master blender”.

And it’s a long family tradition that drives his passion for Scotch whisky blending, which he’s demonstrated with tremendous success over the last 40 years; creating along the way some of the most finest and iconic blends in the Chivas regal line up.

“With over 40 years with Chivas, it gives me great pleasure to be in Sri Lanka for the first time and I am pleased to know that our brand is growing in South Asia with prominence on our 18-year-old and 25-year-old whiskies,” said Colin.

In those 40 years of working with Chivas Brothers, Colin knows every single flavour and characteristic of every Chivas Regal blend that’s been produced and savoured by connoisseurs the world over.

Colin is responsible for the high quality and famously consistent flavour and character of Chivas Regal 12 Year Old. He also created the multi award winning Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Gold Signature in 1997, with its deep, complex and exceptionally rich blend which has been created in true Chivas Regal House style. Today, it is the number one whisky in its category.

Being known as a guardian of consistent quality and taste, Colin joined Chivas in 1973 learning the traditions and style of Chivas’ Strathisla distillery in Speyside, Scotland and ultimately taking over the reins as master blender, subsequent to his legendary predecessor master blender Jimmy Lang’s retirement 1989.

In recognition of Colin’s contribution to the Scotch whisky industry, and as a Master Blender for over 20 years, he was appointed a Master of the Quaich in 2008, having previously been inducted, in 1998, as a Keeper of the Quaich, Scotland’s most prestigious whisky society.

Colin knows the characteristics of each and every whisky in the Chivas Brothers’ extensive, aged inventory. The spirits are kept in European oak casks which come from Spain and Colin noses the new spirit destined for Chivas Regal to ensure its quality and character as well as monitoring the ageing whiskies as they mature to perfection before selecting them for blending at exactly the right time for the Chivas Brothers’ blends.

“Our blends are very close to, or I would say, one with nature as they combine notes which are fruity, floral, woody and even sometimes spicy which are all derivatives from nature.”

He explained that blending whisky is an art. With every cask of whisky opened after 12, 18 or 25 years showing different flavours; it is the blenders’ task to realign each formula by adding or subtracting a certain whisky from the formula accordingly, in order to preserve the flavour and quality that Chivas is renowned for.

“Each whisky that’s distilled has its own character and flavour and there’s over a hundred operating distilleries which gives us over a hundred different whiskies to then select and bring together to create the flavour of our blends. It’s the art of blending that ensures a consistent taste and that’s our job; to safeguard the integrity of all our Scotch whiskies. We’re guardians of that taste experience,” he added.

Colin now travels the world as a global ambassador for Chivas, sharing his wealth of knowledge and, through his exuberant passion for Scotland and Scotch whisky, spreading a unique understanding and appreciation for the brand and its fine blends.

Sri Lanka in the past years since the end of the conflict has see significant economic growth and is now being identified as an emerging market for premium brands such as Chivas. With the introduction of the premium Chivas 25 Year Old Scotch whisky recently, Colin was invited by Periceyl Marketing and the Chivas Academy to conduct a workshop for local bar service professionals in the hopes of educating them on the different Scotch whisky blends available in the market and how to be confident in their own recommendations to customers with the knowledge they gain from the sessions.

“It’s about giving them confidence about themselves; showing them the history and heritage behind Chivas so that they understand exactly what it is they deliver to the customer. I think that’s very important for them as individuals.”

Periceyl Marketing Director Senaka Amaratunga told the Daily FT: “We here in Sri Lanka are delighted to have Colin Scott with us. He is a legend who is revered by many industry professionals and we are honoured to have him here with us and to be able to share the wealth of knowledge he will share with our Chivas Academy members over the next few days.”   

Amaratunga added that Chivas has had a long history in Sri Lanka counting over 20 years as a premium brand and that these sessions would go a long way in improving experience of the 262 members of the Chivas Academy currently participating in the sessions.