Chivas Regal 12 whisky has a knack for being the bottle people keep coming back to, whether it is poured neat, over ice, with a bit of water or a splash of soda. This whisky is smooth enough to be easygoing, but there is plenty of orchard fruit, honey, vanilla, hazelnut and butterscotch underneath. This 12-year-old blended Scotch whisky at 40% ABV feels familiar without becoming predictable, making it a useful starting point for exploring similar bottles. If that is the combination you enjoy, then check out these 5 Chivas Regal 12 whisky alternatives spanning the Aberfeldy 12 Year Old, Compass Box Orchard House, Naked Malt, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old and Chivas Regal 18 Year Old whisky. We list these Chivas Regal 12 alternatives' price in India too.
If the honey and vanilla in Chivas 12 whisky is what keeps you coming back, the Aberfeldy 12 Year Old whisky is the natural first stop. It comes from Perthshire in the Highlands, where the Dewar family built their own distillery in the 1890s to feed their famous blends. It is nicknamed the "Golden Dram", partly for the stream that supplies its water, said to carry flecks of gold. The whisky is soft and rounded, with a faint wisp of smoke as it fades. It rests in a mix of casks, including used ones that have been re-charred to freshen them up, and that is where the gentle spice comes from.
Key flavours: Honey, spiced fruit, vanilla, fudge
ABV: 40%
Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Around ₹6,350.
If it is the orchard fruit in Chivas 12 that wins you over, this bottle turns the volume up. Compass Box Orchard House whisky was founded in London in 2000 by John Glaser and has built its name on imaginative blends of single malt whiskies from different distilleries. Orchard House is made from some of Scotland's fruitiest malts, kept fresh with a light touch of oak. Look for wild strawberries and a hint of Earl Grey tea running through the fruit. It has a little more punch than most everyday bottles, yet stays bright and easy. It is also bottled with a light touch, so you taste the whisky as the blenders made it.
Key flavours: Apple, pear, honey, vanilla shortbread
ABV: 46%
Key feature: Natural colour and not chill-filtered
Compass Box Orchard House Whisky Price in India: Around ₹5,310 at Delhi Duty Free.
Chivas 12 whisky has a soft, sweet side, and Naked Malt takes that into sherry territory. It is a mix of single malts that includes Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes, given extra time in sherry casks that have never held whisky before. Those 'naked' casks give the name and a toffee-like sweetness that sits comfortably beside the fruit. The Naked Malt whisky is a relaxed bottle to keep around: good on its own, good over ice, and happy in a simple whisky cocktail.
Key flavours: Honey, vanilla, oak, dried fruit
Style: Blended malt Scotch
Key feature: Richer, sherry-influenced character
Naked Malt Whisky Price in India: Around ₹4,990 at Delhi Duty Free.
The Glenfiddich 12 Year Old whisky takes the fruity side of Chivas 12 whisky and gives it the spotlight. The distillery was founded by William Grant in 1887 and is still family-owned. Because this is a single malt from one distillery rather than a blend, the character feels more focused, yet it stays smooth and approachable. The whisky rests in bourbon and sherry oak casks, then is brought together in large oak tuns before bottling, which helps everything settle into one soft, rounded whole.
Key flavours: Pear, fresh fruit, butterscotch, cream, malt
ABV: 40%
Key feature: 12-year-old Speyside single malt
Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Around ₹5,600.
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old whisky is the older sibling to the Chivas Regal 12 Year Old whisky, with the same fruit-led house style but built from whiskies that have all spent at least 18 years in cask. It is often called Gold Signature, and master blender Colin Scott's initials appear on every bottle. The extra years show in the palate, which turns velvety with floral touches and a wisp of smoke. The finish is long and warm. It suits someone who already loves the Chivas style and wants more depth.
Key flavours: Dried fruit, buttery toffee, dark chocolate, apple, pear
Age: 18 years
ABV: 40%
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Around ₹12,000.
Note: Whisky prices may vary across Indian states, retailers and duty-free stores.