If there's one hard and fast rule of being a guy, it's "Don't contradict Frank Sinatra." After all, Frank was the Chairman of the Board, the classiest of the classy, and, let's be honest, a guy with a criminal record. That said, there are a hundred different things associated with Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack, not least amongst them a firm affinity for Chivas Regal blended Scotch whisky.

Chivas Regal Scotch whisky has been a staple of the world's bars for as long as many can remember, the distinctive gold-and-red label standing out, marking its place in the minds and hearts of whisky drinkers the world over. Despite its popularity, it's a lesser known fact that Chivas has a rich history, paired with a long-standing tradition of excellence, standing behind it.

In 1801, brothers James and John Chivas opened their own business - a self-styled "gourmet food emporium" in which they served quality food and drink to their customers. However, it was James Chivas who began to stock casks of scotch in the grocery's cellar, a decision that would come to define their business. Soon enough, scotch became the Chivas brothers' primary concern, and in 1843, they were awarded a Royal Warrant to provide goods (in their case, whisky) to Queen Victoria - an honor of the highest degree.

Though it wasn't until the 1850s that Chivas Blended Scotch really appeared. It was during this time that James Chivas, being of the entrepreneurial spirit, set about creating a more accessible, balanced scotch by blending malt and grain whisky into a single, distinct spirit. It was this blend that inevitably made the Chivas brothers' product truly remarkable to the public.

Now, far be it for an upstanding business to take advantage of a catastrophe, but in the 1880s, the Phylloxera, a microscopic insect closely related to the aphid, swept through Europe (and France in particular), decimating the vast European vineyards and forcing the people of Europe to go in search of a new beverage, as the wine supply was similarly depleted. What they found was Chivas.

In 1909 having established a solid fan base, Chivas Bros. launched the very first Chivas Regal, a 25 year-aged blended scotch. Chivas Regal quickly gained wide distribution and popularity in the United States until the passage of Prohibition in the 1920s, subsequently all but vanishing from the American spirit landscape until Prohibition's repeal in 1933.

After the Second World War, Chivas introduced a new line of blended Scotch: Chivas Regal 12 Year, which became an instant favorite in the United States, thanks largely in part to - who else? - Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. To Sinatra and his boys, Chivas Regal seemed to represent affluence, success, and the all the joys of life. Chivas Regal was the Rat Pack's drink, what Sinatra ordered backstage before and after concerts. This, combined with ingenuitive advertising campaignes, helped truly solidify Chivas Regal's place in the American eye, as well as on the global stage. It was this success that allowed Chivas Bros. to purchase the Strathisla Distillery, maker of one of the core single malt whiskies combined into Chivas Regal's distinctive blend.

Since the 1950s, Chivas has experienced something of a brand explosion, becoming more prevalent with every passing year, purchasing media sponsorships, even sponsoring musical tours for acts such as Christina Aguilera, The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and, of course, Frank Sinatra. But their true passion is still creating premium whisky, a passion that culminated in the 2007 launch of Chivas Regal 25, a blended scotch that intentionally recalls the original Chivas Regal, similarly auspiciously aged and released.

For over two hundred years, Chivas Bros. has stood for quality and class in their pursuit of providing the public with fine whisky. It's this tradition of excellence that truly sets Chivas Regal apart not just from other whiskies, but from all other spirits. After all, it was Frank Sinatra's drink of choice - what better stamp of approval would any guy need?