🥃 Chivas Regal 12 Years Old – Old Version (China Market)
The Chivas Regal 12 Years Old – Old Version (China Market) is a collectible earlier release of Chivas’ signature 12-year-old blend, distributed exclusively in Mainland China before the brand’s modern redesign. This version reflects the classic Chivas house style of the early 2000s and prior — smooth, rich, and luxuriously balanced — presented in packaging tailored for the Chinese market. Recognized for its premium labeling, higher ABV, and golden-era presentation, this bottling has become a sought-after collectible among both whisky drinkers and brand historians.
📜 Features & Details
Brand: Chivas Regal
Expression: 12 Years Old – Old Version (China Market)
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Region / Origin: Scotland
ABV: 43% (China-market old editions typically carried higher strength than modern 40% releases)
Bottle Size: 700 ml (also available in 1 L duty-free editions and occasional 50 ml miniatures)
Maturation / Cask Details: A blend of malt and grain whiskies aged for a minimum of 12 years in a mix of American oak and European sherry casks, delivering the rich, smooth Chivas profile with deeper oak influence.
Status: Discontinued bottling — replaced by the newer label design in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Increasingly hard to find and prized by collectors.
👃 Tasting Notes
Nose: Deep and inviting with honey, vanilla, baked apple, and heather honey aromas. Subtle spice and oak tones add warmth and depth.
Palate: Rich and creamy; flavors of toffee, caramel, dried fruit, and malt, balanced by gentle oak spice and smooth sweetness.
Finish: Medium to long; lingering notes of vanilla, spice, and soft fruit with a refined, velvety mouthfeel.
🌟 Independent Review Highlights
Noted for being slightly richer and more full-bodied than the modern Chivas 12 release.
The 43% ABV strength gives it added warmth and complexity, enhancing the classic Chivas balance of fruit, spice, and oak.
Collectors appreciate the pre-redesign packaging, often described as more elegant and “vintage Chivas.”
Favored by long-time Chivas drinkers for its old-style flavor profile reminiscent of the brand’s golden years.
🎁 Presentation & Collectibility
Ideal For:
Collectors of discontinued Chivas bottlings, vintage whisky enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a smooth and historically authentic version of Chivas Regal 12.
Serving Suggestion:
Enjoy neat or with a splash of water to open up the honeyed sweetness and spice.
Collectible Notes:
Distinctive old-style label and box design with golden and maroon accents, often marked with Chinese import labeling or local tax seals.
Bottled at 43% ABV, adding rarity and collectible interest.
Discontinued and replaced by the 40% modern version with updated branding.
Bottles in excellent condition (unopened, original box, and clear labeling) are increasingly scarce and valuable on the secondary market.
Represents a period of Chivas’ expansion into Asia and is part of the brand’s heritage in the early Chinese whisky market.


