Which is better, Chivas Regal or Johnnie Walker?

Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker are two of the most recognisable names in Scotch whisky.

The blends have long competed for the affection of whisky drinkers worldwide. There’s little to separate them, with rich histories, extensive portfolios, and loyal followings apiece. 

But which one is better? That depends on what a drinker values most.

The Brands

Chivas Regal was a creation of a Chivas Brothers master blender, Charles Stewart Howard, who made a 25-year-old whisky back in 1909. But the Chivas Brothers brand goes back much further, to Aberdeen in the 19th century. It established itself as a purveyor of luxury goods before turning its attention to whisky blending. Today, Chivas Brothers is owned by drinks giant Pernod Ricard and the Strathisla distillery in Speyside is home to Chivas Regal and its visitor centre.

Johnnie Walker was founded in Kilmarnock in the 19th century. Now owned by another industry titan, Diageo, it is the biggest-selling Scotch whisky in the world (depending on your definition, the biggest overall too), with its signature striding man logo seen across the globe. Johnnie Walker has a dedicated visitor experience at Princes Street in Edinburgh and brand homes at four distilleries: Glenkinchie, Clynelish, Cardhu, and Caol Ila.

The Core Expressions

The Chivas Regal range includes blends like Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old, Mizunara, and the 25 Year Old. Johnnie Walker’s selection of whiskies contains the Red Label, Black Label, Green Label, Gold Label, and Blue Label.

Both span from the accessible to the luxurious, demonstrating the variety and scale of blended whisky. The more affordable bottles make excellent Highballs (just add soda, ginger ale, cola, or lemonade) or cocktails like the Whisky Sour. Luxury editions like Chivas Regal 18 Year Old or Johnnie Walker Blue Label are suitable for sipping neat. 

To compare the two, we’ll highlight two flagship expressions: Chivas Regal 12 Year Old and Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Chivas Regal 12 Year Old is a smooth, easy-drinking blend with notes of orchard fruit, honey, and vanilla. It’s well-balanced, with a creamy mouthfeel and a slightly floral finish. The influence of Speyside whisky gives it an elegant, mellow profile.

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old has a refined, smoky, structured character. With a backbone of Islay and West Coast malts, it delivers dried fruit, spice, and a whisper of peat. The result is a more immediately challenging but complex dram with a lingering, slightly smoky finish.

Verdict: Which is better, Chivas Regal or Johnnie Walker?

Which one you prefer comes down to taste. Picking our two highlighted whiskies, Johnnie Walker Black Label has the bold spice and smokiness to cut through effectively in a Highball or cocktail, while Chivas Regal 12 Year Old offers a more easy-drinking experience. 

Chivas Regal offers smoothness and Speyside charm, and Johnnie Walker delivers complexity and structure. Ultimately, it’s not about which is better. It’s about what suits your taste.

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