Although Blue Label is so acclaimed that it never has to change, Johnnie Walker is always introducing special edition blends and bottles to commemorate milestones and keep fans on their toes. These are the same malts used in the Chivas range of blended whiskies. 6. I also provide up to date pricing and information on the most popular brands in the US. Think of the biggest, brightest bonfire youve ever seen, and then try to imagine all that white-hot intensity being bottled for consumption. The Famous Grouse 18 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, is much easier to find in the US. An exceptionally smooth whisky in the Dewars style. HOME. Now its all about the liquid. The beer is distilled twice to increase the level of alcohol and make the flavor more intense. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. So lets get on with the taste. Tamdhu This is a rugged, windswept, briny whisky, if you can stretch your imagination to match flavor to scenery. yes, as the name suggests this whisky may as well be older than your children. Consider also the Dewars Signature, NAS, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $160. Meaning there are a lot of loyalists to Johnnie Walkers blended scotches out there. For its price point, it does not justify its lack of taste and quality. Thats all well and good, but if you have yet to try The GlenDronach, youre in for a treat. Like all other Johnnie Walker whiskies, according to the Johnnie Walker website, Blue Label begins with malting, a process done to convert starches into soluble sugars. Initially sweet with a warm vanilla undercurrent and a suggestion of tangerines, it moves smoothly over the palate into a nutty, malty dryness before a long finish brings elegant suggestions of . We only provide the approximate prices. Make sure you are getting the 18 YO Gold Label Centenary Blend and not the NAS Gold Label Reserve or Johnnie Walker 18 YO. Only one in 10,000 casks are considered worthy of entering the blend that makes up the extraordinary Blue Label. The Colours are the more commonly known labels. But of all the whiskies hes made, Stewart once told me, hes most proud of DoubleWood 12 Year Old, which changed the way the industry approached spirit maturation. See wine-searcher.com for retailers still carrying it. The primary distilleries in the bottle are Blair Athol, Cardhu, Glen Elgin, and Auchroisk. An amazing blend. Primary flavors are sweet berries, roasted nuts, and cereal, with a touch of sea salt on the finish. It makes a hot, sweet liquid, which is separated off and cooled down. As for the science behind this ranking, we only considered two elements. On the nose we get apricots, anise and orange oil. It does not, for example, include The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926, of which there are only 12 bottles in the worldthe last of which sold for just over $1 million at auction. It feels like they took Johnnie Black and just added more smoke for the sake of more smoke. Thompson Brothers Finally, its transferred to oak casks to mature for a minimum of three years. Winchester shepherds this expression through several different cask types, including both first- and second-fill American oak (for tropical fruitiness) and ex-sherry oak (for spicy complexity). My only usual gripe is the inclusion of grain whiskies [unless its something like a Monkey Shoulder, which is, in fact, a Blended Malt]. Bushmills Has Dropped a New 30-Year-Old Whiskey in Time for St. Paddys Day, How to Make a Brooklynite, a Daiquiri Made With Funky Rum, Honey and Bitters, From Kenyan Gin to Indian Whisky: 11 Outstanding Spirits From Around the World. Its a smoke show, simple as that. It was then taken off the marking in 2013 before it was given a soft relaunch in late 2015 / early 2016. That alone should give you an idea of what the Platinum is like. Taste Test: Forget Jack Daniels. It is not meant for hasty intoxication or even casual drinking. The Blue Label does its best to push aside and hide that punchy presence, and it is a very successful, delightful, and, may I add, very sensual pour. It used to be one of those bottles you could only get at duty-free but became widely available a few years ago. Johnnie Walker 18-Year-Old vs Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Two Drams A Day Two Drams A Day in which the author introduces some thoughts with respect to a few compared drams Written by HC December 25, 2021 Johnnie Walker 18-Year-Old vs Johnnie Walker Blue Label Fable The drams were tasting are all available at your local liquor store or, at the very least, online (check by clicking the price). James Eadie Black Label is a whisky perfectly suitable for any Scotch cocktail on the rocks or neat. . For over 200 years now, the iconic Johnnie Walker label has been a favored whisky blend, with a total of 19 varieties in its collection. The end shifts towards Islay with a wisp of smoke as the sip fades quickly away while warming you with alcohol heat. We get why its priced this high the extinct distilleries and all that jazz but still. A whisky worth the wait. This was a struggle to place. Batch 27 refers to the practice of blending 27 barrels at a time for each bottling. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a blend of Scotland's finest, rarest, and most exceptional bottles of whisky. You may be paying for the label, but what that label represents is priceless. Definitely worth picking up a bottle or two if you are in the UK or know someone who can bring it over. Best taken on the rocks. The palate has a vanilla creaminess thats punctuated by bright apple, dried fruit, and more peat. Grain whiskies are made by swapping out the barley for maize, wheat, or a combination of both. The change, though, isnt entirely out of context. The rich amber-colored 17 is full-flavored and balanced, develops slowly, and brims with sweet malty notes and the intensely jammy flavor of a black mission figand with a touch of peat smoke and a hint of oak to boot. This Scotch is full-bodied yet delicate; complex, yet subtle. The end is deliberate with the cedar, spice, and fruit giving way to a measured wisp of earthy smoke and a splash of sea brine to finish off the sip. It is the standard while Blue Label is the pinnacle. Islay, of course, is an island off Scotlands west coast, famous for its peaty whiskies, and Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van) is the isles best-known beach. Mouthfeel is slightly oily, the juice chewy. The Scotch Whisky industry has seen some dramatic shortages of 18 year old malts, and while Gold Label has traditionally been an 18 year old product, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label has now taken over that space. Diageo is clearly banking on the fact that they can re-capture theconnoisseur with one of their many single malt offerings (its no coincidence that Talisker Storm was released at the same time as Gold Label Reserve). A smooth, sherried Scotch whisky owned by Diageo. Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 year traditionally retailed for around $85, this new Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve was initially rumored to come in around the $65 price point (a fair adjustment for a much younger product), but unfortunately, much to our surprise, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve comes in at the painfully high $87. Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 (40% ABV / 80 proof, $85 discontinued) while its the same light amber color as Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Gold Label 18 has an extraordinarily different nose. Just the other day, I spent some time with the Johnnie Walker Black Label and the Gold Label Reserve, and although I was a bit put off by the strong ethanol vapours of the Black Label, I did come away impressed with its older and rounder sibling. And its the best-selling scotch whisky by a pretty big margin. Linkwood It is based primarily on Cragganmore and Glendullan malts. Monkey Shoulder, Batch 27, Blended Malt Whisky. Mortlach It is the best single malt whisky of the Lagavulin Distillery at a reasonable price. For us, it always feels a bit like a nice hat on an already nice hat. Take the plunge and discover cocktail recipes, new product launches and the latest from our world of whisky. In fall 2021, Emma Walker was promoted to that position. They are produced by combining single malt scotch whiskies made at various Diageo plants across Scotland with the single grain whiskies made at its large Lowland distilleries. At the House of Walker, it's out with the Gold and in with the new. Johnnie Walker Blue Label takes all of the aromas and flavors of good Scotch and enhances them to the pinnacle of their capabilities. Gold Label is an 18 YO blend that 1s absolutely outstanding, but which has now been sadly discontinued by Diageo. In many countries it has outpaced the indigenous spirit, a feat considered nearly impossible just a decade ago. This whisky was actually taken off the market in 2012 and people lost their shit. Oban 14 Years Old is a wee bit oily and quite a bit weighty. While Black Label is a fine Scotch whisky, it's only that just fine. But no, thats not how it is blended. Even if I dont ever buy another bottle of this legendary blend, its not going to matter in the long run to this conglomerate. Fettercairn Bowmore Glen Garioch It's a wonderful way to try the lineup of Johnnie Walker whiskies without breaking the bank. lets simmer it down a bit with this smooth label. The whisky spent a good many years in ex-bourbon casks before being reshaped in Oloroso Spanish oak. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve seems to be custom tailored for the premium crossover American Whiskey drinker:its much more oak heavy than the other Johnnie Walker offerings, its fairly sweet, and it has a very dry finish. Full disclosure: For us, this and the expression above are basically a tie when it comes to how tasty they are. In November of 2021, Diageos shares hit a record high, as the giant projected a 16 per cent growth in the new financial year, with a target of a 50% increase by the end of this decade. Whereas the Gold Label was immediately sweeter after the Black, the 18-year-old is surprisingly just there potentially as an older, longer-aged Black Label, with all of the alcohol giving up its share to the angels. The second batch clocks in at 63.9 percent ABV, slightly higher than the first, with no chill filtration or color added. Given a modicum of motivation, every one of the whiskies on this list is eminently gettable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ailsa Bay It brings together a wide variety of flavors and delivers a nice level of complexity and integration while still maintaing a lighter style of flavor experience and a high level of affability. Perhaps not as deep and complex as the single malts that its comprised of, but it is still an excellent dram, one I wouldnt mind drinking all night if I had to. AU $299.99. It combines the smoothness of the distillerys younger whiskies with the depth of the older expressions. Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years is a smooth, well-rounded combination of up to 18 different whiskies from all over Scotland. Johnnie Walker Blue Label For the holidays, Pernod Ricard is suggesting their Chivas Regal 18 year old Gold Signature blended Scotch as an alternative to the globally known and. 750 ml bottle . Theres a woodiness thats softly cedary with notes of bright, sweet fruit, spicy black pepper, oily vanilla pods, and fresh-cut grass on the nose. Free postage. House of MacDuff The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold Blended Scotch Whisky. Scapa Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. This is a very solid base for a highball, especially for anyone looking to get into a mild blended scotch that brings all of Scotland into the glass. The Blue doesn't come with an age specification but the Black is a blend of 12-year-old malts, the Green 15's, and the Gold seems to be bottled as either 15 or 18. For other spirit ideas see Finding The Perfect Fathers Day Gift. This is the same juice, which is comprised of 18 whiskies all of which are a minimum of 18 years old. . The result, a unique combination of matured malt whisky hailing from Speyside, Highland, Lowland, and the Scottish Islands. The flavor Smell Rich, opulent, warming spices. Dominant flavors include rich dark chocolate, dried coconut, and orange, with subtle notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and wood smoke. Johnnie Walker Blue Label does not bear an official age statement, unlike Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18-Year-Old. Lagavulin 16 Single Malt Scotch Whisky: The best value smoked whisky. Add to Cart -Product Details . A whisky with a blend this rare and of this high quality should not be diluted with any citrus juice, sugars, or even ice. Review: Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 vs. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Review: Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whisky. Caol Ila Oban The line now with Johnnie Walker Platinum and Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve represents a dramatic shift away from theconnoisseur and towards theaspirational consumer. Of course, specific glassware and accompaniments are not entirely necessary. Yes, I would like to receive special offers and promotions from Johnnie Walker by email. JOHNNIE WALKER 18 YR. 1 x 750ML. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a popular Scotch whisky made from the rarest, hand-selected, and most exceptional whiskies. This is basically Johnnie Black, a slightly peaty blend, thats been casked again in deeply charred oak. Smells like lemons and pears sprinkled with sea salt, set atop a table that had recently been on fire. 18 year old A premium 18 year old blend from Johnnie Walker, Gold Label is a fruity, rich whisky with the Highland malt Clynelish at its heart. This is an almost savory whisky, with a supporting cast of stone fruit, vanilla and even some honey notes, striking a nice balance throughout each sip. Now playing: Marconi Union Signals. Free postage. We're here whenever you're ready to take the plunge with Johnnie Walker and discover cocktail recipes, new product launches and the latest from our world of whisky. It's made with hand-picked casks aged for 18 years, with each passing season building layers of complex flavor. There are over 8 Johnnie Walker Colours, 4 Explorers Club Collection, and 7 John Walker & Sons labels in the Johnnie Walker whisky shelf. Soft, creamy vanilla pairs beautifully with warming malt on the palate. So how does it compare with Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 (aka The Centenary Blend)? The taste really delivers on the softness of the cedar while adding more tropical fruitiness and a subtle edge of dried roses. Glengoyne TBWC ACCOUNT. You should make the most of it. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Indulge all of your senses with a smooth glass of Johnnie Walker Platinum Label Blended Scotch Whisky, a blend of up to 18 different scotch whiskies each chosen for their remarkable depth of flavor and character. Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old 700mL Bottle. Fary Lochan This is not The Best Scotches of All Time. Adding just a few drops of water reveals all sorts of pleasantries on the palate including butterscotch, crme brle, apple and star anise. , or a combination of up to date pricing and information on the nose we get apricots, anise orange! Promotions from Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a smooth, well-rounded combination of both with notes! Bottles you could only get at duty-free but became widely available a few years ago malt on the has... Malt Scotch whisky, it always feels a bit with this smooth Label considered nearly impossible just a decade.... 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