DISCOVER DEWAR’S

History

OUR HERITAGE

  • 1846

    House of Dewar’s Foundation

    John Dewar, a respected expert in wine and spirits, opened his own merchant shop on Perth’s High Street in 1846. Drawing on his deep knowledge of flavour and quality, in the coming years he began selecting the finest casks of Single Malt and grain whiskies to create his own signature blends in the 1860s, laying the foundation for what would become the House of Dewar’s.

  • 1881

    Early pioneers of the marrying process

    Our 1881 stock records reveal that DEWAR’S was among the earliest Scotch whisky makers to champion the marrying process, blending whiskies then returning them to oak casks for a further period of integration. This meticulous approach remains central to our blending philosophy today, forming the two-stage ageing process used in every bottle of DEWAR’S 12, 15, and 18 year old, and now further evolved in our Prestige four-stage ageing process.

  • 1885

    Going Global

    With John’s sons now running the family business, John Alexander and Tommy Dewar first drove the expansion into England and London, before taking the business global in the early 1890s. They grew its reputation for quality by assembling one of Scotland’s finest cask inventories of rare and old whiskies.

  • 1886

    Recognition of Excellence

    In 1886, DEWAR’S earned its first major award at the Edinburgh International Exhibition, an exceptional achievement at a time when whisky quality was highly variable. This marked the beginning of DEWAR’S journey toward international recognition, establishing the foundation for what would become a legacy of quality and craftsmanship.

  • 1892

    Pioneers of the Scotch Highball since 1892

    Legend has it that the ‘Original Highball’ was born when Tommy Dewar, while in a New York bar, ordered a ‘ball’ of Scotch whisky served in a tall glass. His flair for storytelling and innovation helped propel the Scotch Highball into the American mainstream during the 1890s.

  • 1897

    1st official Master Blender creation

    A.J. Cameron, the first Master Blender from outside the founding family, was the architect of the DEWAR’S house style. He went on to create the now-iconic White Label, a defining expression of that style and one of the world’s most enduring Blended Scotch whiskies.

  • 1900 – 1930

    A Season Full of Awards

    By the early 20th century, the DEWAR’S name had become synonymous with premium Scotch whisky across established markets, establishing itself as a leading exporter. This reputation was built on decades of consistent quality and the pioneering vision of the Dewar family, making the brand a trusted choice for discerning whisky drinkers worldwide.

  • 2006

    Preserving a legacy

    Stephanie Macleod was appointed as Dewar’s seventh Master Blender, becoming the guardian of the entire Scotch whisky portfolio. With a deep respect for tradition and a vision for the future, she continues to shape whiskies that honour the legacy and house style of Dewar’s.

  • 2019

    Four-Stage Ageing

    Inspired by blending records found in the archives, Stephanie Macleod pioneered Dewar’s Four-Stage Ageing Process to launch the Prestige Collection. Featuring some of the brand’s oldest and most refined expressions, these whiskies have earned global acclaim for their exceptional depth, elegance, and award-winning quality.

  • 2026

    World’s Best

    Dewar’s is the World’s Most Awarded Blended Scotch Whisky, renowned for its exceptional quality and flavour. At the heart of this success is Stephanie Macleod, named World’s Best Master Blender seven times, a testament to her extraordinary skill and leadership.

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OUR PEOPLE

Passed down from our founder John Dewar, DEWAR’S masterful blending legacy now continues with multi-award-winning Master Blender Stephanie Macleod.

*Seven-time World’s Best Master Blender (IWC)

Blending a legacy

The Origins of DEWAR’S Blended Scotch Whisky

Founder John Dewar was one of the earliest pioneers of Blended Scotch whisky, beginning his blending journey in the 1860s following the Gladstone Spirit Act. This landmark legislation legalized the combination of single malt and grain whiskies, paving the way for the birth of blended Scotch. With a clear vision to create Scotch whisky of exceptional quality, John Dewar built an extensive inventory of rare and aged whiskies, setting the stage for what would become the original DEWAR’S whisky blends.

A Family Legacy of Craftsmanship

As DEWAR’S grew, John Dewar’s son, John Alexander Dewar, learned the art of whisky blending directly from his father. In 1897, A.J. Cameron became the first official Master Blender from outside the family, a bold move that laid the foundations for one of the most respected and enduring blending traditions in the Scotch whisky industry.

Seven Generations of Blending Mastery

Since then, each DEWAR’S Master Blender has upheld and evolved the distinctive DEWAR’S house style – layered, refined, and rich in character. That legacy continues today under Stephanie Macleod, who became DEWAR’S seventh Master Blender in 2006. Named World’s Best Master Blender seven times, Stephanie leads the creation of the entire DEWAR’S Scotch whisky portfolio, from our signature two-stage aged expressions to rare, limited-edition releases that explore bold new cask finishes and maturation techniques.

By nurturing the next generation of blending talent and laying down casks for the future, Stephanie ensures DEWAR’S continues to lead in Scotch whisky innovation, blending heritage with forward-thinking craftsmanship.

HISTORY OF BLENDING

The tradition of blending whisky dates to the 19th century, emerging as a solution to the inconsistent quality of Single Malts at the time.

WORLD’S MOST AWARDED BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY

DEWAR’S has consistently earned recognition from the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions since winning our first medal in 1886 at the Edinburgh International Exhibition. DEWAR’S is officially the World’s Most Awarded Blended Scotch Whisky.

Our pursuit of excellence continues under seven-time World’s Best Master Blender (IWC) Stephanie Macleod, whose expertise has earned landmark recognition, including DEWAR’S 32 Year Old, crowned “World’s Best Whisky” by the International Whisky Competition in 2020 and newly awarded Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and DEWAR’S 12 Year Old, the highest-rated 12 Year Old Blended Scotch on Whisky Advocate (94 points) and newly awarded Gold at the 2026 International Spirits Challenge.

With more than 1,500 international accolades across the portfolio, recent highlights include Platinum awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, multiple Gold medals from the International Spirits Challenge, and category wins at the World Whiskies Awards – testament to our unwavering commitment to exceptional quality and masterful blending.

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Visit DEWAR’S Aberfeldy Distillery in picturesque Perthshire for immersive experiences, private distillery tours, exclusive whiskies and local cuisine.

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Frequently asked questions

What is DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky?

DEWAR’S is the World’s Most Awarded Blended Scotch Whisky, tracing its heritage to John Dewar’s shop in Perth in 1846. Today, DEWAR’S combines up to 30 Single Malt and grain whiskies, including aged reserves from our five distilleries – Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, and Macduff – plus select whiskies from across Scotland. Our house style, rich fruit, honeyed sweetness, silky vanilla, fresh citrus, and a wisp of smoke, is shaped by the blending mastery of seven-time World’s Best Master Blender (IWC) Stephanie Macleod, DEWAR’S has earned over 1,500 international accolades, including DEWAR’S 12 Year Old, the highest-rated 12 Year Old Blended Scotch on Whisky Advocate (94 points), and newly awarded Gold at the 2026 International Spirits Challenge.

What makes DEWAR’S different from other Scotch whiskies?

DEWAR’S stands apart through our mastery of blending and innovation. Led by seven-time World’s Best Master Blender (IWC) Stephanie Macleod, we expertly harmonise up to 30 Single Malt and grain whiskies to create our signature house style. Our Premium expressions undergo various specialised maturation techniques – select expressions use two-stage ageing processes, while our 12 Year Old is finished in first-fill Bourbon casks. We also finish select expressions in expressive casks like sherry and rum, adding nuanced layers of character. Our house style delivers rich fruit, honeyed sweetness, silky vanilla, fresh citrus, and a wisp of smoke. With over 1,500 medals and recognition as the World’s Most Awarded Blended Scotch Whisky, DEWAR’S represents 180 years of whisky heritage.

What’s the difference between two-stage ageing and four-stage ageing?

DEWAR’S uses different specialised maturation processes across our portfolio. Select Premium expressions undergo a two-stage ageing process where whiskies are aged, expertly blended, then returned to oak casks for additional maturation to achieve deeper integration. Our Double Double Collection (20 years and above) undergoes our signature four-stage ageing process. Single malts and grains are aged separately, then blended by type and returned to cask, before being combined as a Blended Scotch and rested again, with a final finish in carefully selected expressive casks like Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, or Madeira. This four-stage method, developed by seven-time World’s Best Master Blender (IWC) Stephanie Macleod, creates exceptional integration, balance, and complexity.