Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth 8 Year Old Review: Mezcal Cask Scotch Tested (UK 2026)

Dewar's Ilegal Smooth 8 Year Old is one of the boldest experiments in modern blended Scotch. As the world's first mezcal cask-finished whisky, it splits opinion right down the middle. You'll either love the vegetal, peppery character or find it completely baffling.

I picked up a bottle at £28.69 to see if this Scottish-Mexican fusion actually works. After testing it neat, with water, and in several cocktails, here's my verdict: it's a genuinely unique whisky that excels in highballs but struggles as a contemplative neat sipper. At current UK prices (£21-29), it's outstanding value, if you know what you're getting into.

About the Reviewer

I'm Pasito Tola the founder of Best Whiskey Guide, and I specialize in whisky reviews with a focus on UK availability, value, and practical drinking guidance. All tasting notes and photos on this page are from my own bottle purchased in November 2025.

Review Summary

Product: Dewar's Ilegal Smooth 8 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Price Paid: £28.69
Reviewed: November 2024
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Best For: Cocktails (9/10), experimental sippers
Age: 8 Years | ABV: 40% | Volume: 70cl
Country: Scotland | Finish: Ex-Mezcal Casks

Quick Take: Outstanding value experimental Scotch with dominant green pepper notes. Exceptional in cocktails, divisive neat. Buy if you enjoy mezcal, skip if you prefer traditional Scotch.

Quick Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Buy if you're paying £21-29 and you:

• Enjoy mezcal or tequila and want to explore agave-influenced Scotch
• Need a versatile cocktail base (the highballs are exceptional)
• Want an 8-year age-stated experimental whisky at entry-level pricing
• Appreciate bold, polarizing flavor profiles

Skip if you:

• Prefer traditional Scotch profiles (sherried, classic malt, or heavily peated)
• Dislike vegetal/herbal flavors (green pepper dominates the nose)
• Want a contemplative neat-sipping whisky

Quick Specs

Specification	Details
Spirit Type	Blended Scotch Whisky
Core Malt	Aberfeldy (honeyed Highland character)
Age Statement	8 Years
ABV	40% (80 Proof)
Cask Finish	Ex-Ilegal Mezcal (Reposado)
Volume	70cl
UK Price Range	£21-31 (typically £28-29)
Best Use	Cocktails, adventurous sipping
Awards	Gold, International Spirits Challenge 2021

My Ratings: Score Breakdown

Category	Score	Notes
Nose	7.5/10	Interesting but divisive green pepper dominance
Palate	7.0/10	Creamy texture, good balance of sweet/savory
Finish	6.5/10	Too short, slightly drying
Cocktails	9.0/10	Exceptional in highballs and citrus cocktails
Value	9.0/10	Outstanding at £21-29 for 8yr + exotic finish
Overall	8.0/10	Strong buy for experimental whisky fans

Rating Scale: 6/10 = Decent, 7/10 = Good, 8/10 = Very Good/Recommended, 9/10 = Excellent, 10/10 = Exceptional

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Pros & Cons: At-a-Glance

Strengths

• Outstanding value: 8-year age statement + exotic finish for £21-29
• Genuinely unique: One of the only mezcal-finished Scotches available
• Excellent in cocktails: One of the top 3 whisky highballs I've made this year
• Award-winning production: Gold at International Spirits Challenge
• Creamy mouthfeel: Surprisingly rich texture for 40% ABV

Weaknesses

• Polarizing nose: Green bell pepper dominates, not for traditional Scotch lovers
• Inconsistent UK availability: Often out of stock at major retailers
• Short finish: Brief and slightly drying
• Limited neat appeal: Better as cocktail base than contemplative dram

What Makes It Different? The Mezcal Cask Story

Dewar's Ilegal Smooth starts as an 8-year-old blended Scotch built around Aberfeldy single malt, known for its rich honey and heather notes. The blend contains up to 40 different single malt and grain whiskies.

The double-aging process: After initial blending, Dewar's returns the married liquid to oak casks for secondary maturation, allowing flavors to integrate more smoothly before the finishing stage.

The mezcal cask finish: The whisky then spends approximately six months in ex-Ilegal Mezcal Reposado casks sourced from Oaxaca, Mexico. These barrels impart distinctive agave-derived compounds:

• Pyrazines (green bell pepper, grassy notes)
• Terpenes (roasted agave character)
• Guaiacol (sweet smoke, different from Islay peat)

This was only possible after the Scotch Whisky Association amended regulations in June 2019 to allow agave spirit cask finishes. For broader context on blended Scotch categories, see my guide to Scotch whisky.

My Tasting Notes

Neat (Room Temperature)

Neat, At a Glance

• Nose: Green bell pepper, heather honey, toffee, lime zest, cut grass, bonfire ash
• Palate: Vanilla custard, sliced peppers, leafy greens, black pepper, chili heat
• Finish: Short-medium, peppery, slightly drying, vanilla + oak

Nose:
The first thing that hits you is green bell pepper, unmistakable and dominant. Behind that vegetal punch, there's heather honey, toffee, and cinnamon. I also get lime zest and cut grass. The smoke is subtle and sweet, more like bonfire ash than medicinal Islay peat.

Interestingly, I found the honey and citrus more pronounced than many critics report, possibly batch variation or my palate picking up the Aberfeldy backbone more strongly.

Palate:
The mouthfeel surprised me. It's creamy and almost buttery for 40% ABV. The taste starts with vanilla custard and icing sugar (that's the Aberfeldy sweetness), then transitions to sliced peppers, leafy greens, and black pepper. There's a decided savory character here with a touch of chili spice.

Finish:
Short to medium. The final impressions are warming heat (chili-like), peppery notes, and sweet oak. It dries out slightly, leaving herbaceous funk and vanilla. Not complex, but pleasant.

Rating Neat: 7/10

With Water (3-5 Drops)

With Water, At a Glance

• Softer pepper, more honey/toffee dominance
• Sweeter, better integrated, less aggressive vegetal notes
• Similar length, slightly less drying

Adding water does wonders:

• Softens the vegetal edge significantly
• Opens up honey, toffee, and vanilla sweetness
• Creates better balance between Scotch base and mezcal influence

This is how I'd recommend most people drink it.

Rating With Water: 7.5/10

In Cocktails: Where It Shines

This is where Dewar's Ilegal Smooth becomes exceptional. The Toasted Citrus Highball (Dewar's signature serve) ranks among the best whisky highballs I've tested, alongside Japanese whisky mizuwaris and a Nikka From The Barrel ginger highball.

Recipe:

• 50ml Ilegal Smooth
• 25ml pink grapefruit juice
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml honey water (1:1 ratio)
• 100ml soda water
• Garnish: pink grapefruit slice

Build in a highball glass over cubed ice, stir gently. The citrus acidity cuts through the creamy texture beautifully, while the grapefruit harmonizes with the peppery notes. For more whiskey highball recipes, see my complete guide.

Other excellent uses:

• Smoky Old Fashioned (with chocolate bitters)
• Orgeat Sour (almond syrup pairs wonderfully)

Cocktail caveat: The vegetal note can clash with dessert-style cocktails (heavy cream or chocolate). Stick to citrusy or herbal templates.

Rating In Cocktails: 9/10

Where Ilegal Smooth Works (and Doesn't) in Cocktails:

Excellent Uses:

• Citrus highballs (grapefruit, lemon, lime)
• Orgeat/nutty sours
• Smoky Old Fashioned riffs
• Paloma variations
• Herbal/botanical cocktails

Avoid:

• Creamy or dessert cocktails (clashes with green pepper)
• Super-sweet cola-style long drinks
• Chocolate-forward recipes

Understanding the Green Pepper Profile

Let's address it directly: this whisky prominently features green bell pepper, especially on the nose. It's the most frequently cited tasting note, and it's polarizing.

In my experience, the pepper is more intense on the nose than the palate. Once you taste it, the honey and vanilla from Aberfeldy provide better balance. But if you actively dislike bell peppers, this will be a problem.

Why? Pyrazines from roasted agave in the mezcal casks. It's intentional, not a flaw.

I appreciate the boldness and novelty, but I wouldn't reach for it as a daily neat sipper. As a cocktail base? Absolutely brilliant.

If you want experimental vibes without aggressive vegetal notes, try Dewar's Caribbean Smooth instead. It's sweeter, rum-finished, and more universally appealing.

Where It Sits in the Dewar's Range

Understanding Ilegal Smooth's position in Dewar's lineup helps set expectations:

• More adventurous than: Dewar's White Label, Dewar's 12
• Similar experimentation to: Dewar's Caribbean Smooth, Portuguese Smooth, Japanese Smooth
• Less premium than: Dewar's 15, Dewar's 18, Dewar's 25

Bottom line: This is Dewar's "experimental playground" range, not their serious aged expressions. It's designed to attract younger drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts, not whisky purists.

UK Pricing & Where to Buy

Current UK Prices (November 2024):

• Amazon UK: As low as £21.37 during Black Friday (26% off)
• DrinkSupermarket: £28.69 (most reliable stock)
• Ocado: £29.45 (variable by region)
• Gerry's Wines & Spirits: £30.95 (low stock)
• The Whisky Exchange: Out of stock

Value Assessment:

I paid £28.69, and at that price, it's outstanding value for an 8-year age-stated, double-aged, exotic cask-finished whisky. Expect to see it between £21 and £29 in the UK, with occasional promotional drops below £22.

Buy-Under Threshold:
Buy under £30 – Excellent value
Hesitate at £31-35 – Loses value edge
Skip above £35 – Not worth premium pricing

Where to Buy: DrinkSupermarket has been most reliable for stock. Amazon UK often has the best promotional prices.

Note: Prices fluctuate frequently, especially on Amazon. Always check current listings before buying.

Availability: This suffers from batch production issues due to limited mezcal cask supply. If you see it in stock, buy immediately. It often disappears for months.

Side-by-Side: How Does It Compare?

Feature	Ilegal Smooth	Chivas Extra 13	Caribbean Smooth	Great King St.
UK Price	£21-29	£30-35	£26-29	£28-32
Age	8 Years	13 Years	8 Years	NAS
Cask Finish	Ex-Mezcal	Ex-Tequila	Ex-Rum	None
Profile	Vegetal, peppery	Sweet, fruity	Tropical, caramel	Classic, balanced
Smoke	Moderate	Light	Very light	Light peat
Best For	Mezcal fans, cocktails	Safe experimentation	Crowd-pleasing	Traditional blend lovers
Value	9/10	7/10	9/10	8/10

Which Bottle Should You Choose?

You mainly drink cocktails and like agave spirits → Ilegal Smooth
You want agave influence but less vegetal character → Chivas Extra 13
You want something everyone at the table will enjoy → Caribbean Smooth
You're a classic blend fan who doesn't care about agave → Great King Street

Bottom line: Ilegal Smooth is the bold choice for adventurous drinkers. Caribbean Smooth is the safe crowd-pleaser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dewar's Ilegal Smooth discontinued?

No, but it has inconsistent UK availability due to limited mezcal cask supply. As of November 2024, it's available at DrinkSupermarket and occasionally Amazon UK. This is batch production rather than permanent core range.

What does it taste like?

Dominant green bell pepper on the nose, with honeyed sweetness and vegetal notes on the palate. Light herbal smoke throughout. Short-medium finish. If you enjoy mezcal, you'll likely appreciate the agave influence.

Is it good for cocktails?

Absolutely. This is where it excels. The Toasted Citrus Highball is exceptional, and it works brilliantly in citrus-forward cocktails. For more Scotch cocktail ideas, see my guide.

How does it compare to regular Dewar's?

Significantly more complex than Dewar's White Label. It has an 8-year age statement, double-aging, and mezcal cask finish. For £5-7 more than White Label, you get substantially more character, if you appreciate bold profiles.

Final Verdict

Dewar's Ilegal Smooth is one of the most distinctive blended Scotches I've tried.

My recommendation:
If you enjoy mezcal or appreciate boundary-pushing spirits, buy this at the current pricing (especially if you can find it under £25). Use it primarily in highballs and citrus-forward cocktails.

If you're a neat-sipping purist who prefers traditional Scotch, skip it and check my best whiskies in the UK guide instead.

Best Whiskey Guide Rating: 8.0/10 | Value: 9/10 | Cocktails: 9/10 | Neat: 7/10

This is whisky for people who order "the weird one" on cocktail menus. If that's you, this bottle deserves a spot in your collection.