Johnnie Walker, Scotch whiskey: description, composition and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Johnnie Walker is one of the most famous Scotch whiskeys in the world. The brand has an impressive and widely accessible portfolio of blends that everyone can enjoy. The range is extensive, from inexpensive drinks worthy of any cocktail, to bottles of pure luxury, designed purely for sipping and savoring. The range is indicated by colored labels that have undergone some changes in recent years.

Blended whiskey for every taste and budget

Founded in 1820, Johnny Walker has become one of the iconic brands of Scotch whisky. The blended drink line is made up of varieties that range from inexpensive to super-premium, guaranteeing high quality product regardless of the brand chosen.

Mixing whiskey is an art form - to get a quality drink from a variety of varieties,it takes a talent that few in this world have. Finding the perfect combination and then repeating it in every subsequent bottle, unchanged for many years, is even more of a challenge. From this point of view, the abundance of varieties of whiskey sold under this brand seems even more impressive.

How to understand Johnnie Walker blends?

Whiskey "Johnny Walker" is distinguished by the color of the label. Each of them is a different blend, aged for a certain period of time. At the same time, the age of more expensive whiskey is longer.

This can be confusing. It is not uncommon for a customer to be surprised by the taste of the drink, because he mistakenly ordered one of the most expensive Johnny Walker blends. You need to remember the following sequence of label colors from the least to the most expensive varieties:

• red;
• black;
• double black;
• gold;
• platinum;
• blue.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Whiskey

The price of this variety is quite affordable. "Red Label" is a basic blend that anyone can afford. Johnnie Walker Red Label Whiskey can be found in almost every bar in the world - it is the most affordable scotch and is suitable mainly for making cocktails.

It was originally called Extra Special Old Highland Whiskey, and the modern name appeared in 1909. Johnnie Walker Red Label Whiskey is a blend of 30young single m alts and grain scotches. It has, as noted in the reviews, a sweet and spicy aroma with a noticeable smoke and a warm aftertaste. The strength of the drink is 40% alcohol of the total volume.

Black Label

If you like Johnnie Walker Red Label whiskey, you will like Black Label too. A single step on the brand's color wheel makes a huge difference. Johnnie Walker Black Label Whiskey is a complex blended scotch that is surprisingly still fairly affordable. Fans in their reviews recommend using this brand to create great cocktails, such as Rob Roy, but it can also be enjoyed in its pure form.

Johnnie Walker is famous for its square bottle, colorful labels distinguishing different blends with complex aromas, combined over the years to make it one of the best-selling whiskeys in the world. The success of the brand lies in the excellent composition of the blend, and Black Label is a prime example of the art of blending at an affordable price. John Walker took up whiskey blending in 1820, and in 1909 his son Alexander gave the family business a new impetus by relaunching his father's recipe under the new, simpler Black Label name.

This is one of the most complex blends in the line, consisting of forty varieties aged for at least 12 years. Most of them are single m alts, some are produced exclusively for this brand. The blend represents a wide range of producing regions, from the soft scotch of the lowlands to the strongisland and amber single m alt isle.

A problem many Scotch whiskey drinkers face is excessive peatiness or smokiness. The distinctive feature of Black Label is the addition of grain scotch, which softens the taste, making it more pleasant and sweeter.

For those who prefer a balanced peaty-sweet flavor, Black Label is the perfect drink to start your journey through the Scotch whiskey universe, as consumers have noted.

The Black Label has all the hallmarks of Scottish distilleries. Sweet fruity notes with a hint of peat give way to a warm aftertaste of barley, oak with vanilla and butter. The finish is a semi-dry, balanced smoke that lasts long enough to keep your taste buds begging for repetition.

Double Black Label

Rich and complex, Double Black still sells at an affordable price. What started out as a limited edition formula in 2011 has become a permanent fixture in the Johnny Walker set and is yet another reason for whiskey lovers to rejoice.

The blend is similar to the Black Label, but with a richer and more intense taste, which has become a masterpiece of mixed scotch. For those who love Black Label's peaty taste, Double is the perfect next step in enhancing the Scotch whiskey experience. The concentrated aroma is extremely complex and includes a fascinating blend of smoke, vanilla and dried fruits. For blending whiskey selected smoky, aged in deepburnt oak barrels. Again, this is a great ingredient for simple cocktails. Lovers of pure taste are advised to add a little distilled water to maximize the taste of the drink.

The blend was created by Jim Beveridge to complement the Johnny Walker range and the result is a true master's creation. "Double Black" has a rich and enveloping taste that guarantees an exquisite feast of the senses. Aromas of Christmas fruitcake, plum pudding, orange peel and vanilla break through the smoky layer of peat, creating a memorable and tasty whisky. At the end, light fruity notes appear, apple chips and fresh pears, vanilla buns and candied ginger, which are replaced by cinnamon and orange. The finish is long, lingering and satisfying. This is truly a world class whiskey worthy of any bar.

Gold Label Reserve

The redesign of the line ended in 2014 with the long-awaited release of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Whiskey. Previously available only in duty-free stores, it has become available everywhere and has become a permanent part of the brand.

The formula is a blend of 15 whiskeys selected by Jim Beveridge, including Clinelish M alt. The taste of scotch is sweet and smooth and starts with aromas of fruits, flowers and thick caramel. The sweetness remains on the tongue already with hints of vanilla and cream, embellished with exquisite honey tones. The finish is long and strong, slightly smoky and sweet, witharomas of wild berries.

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label

This is a blend of Johnnie Walker - whiskey, which begins the first steps into the realm of elite scotch. It became a long-awaited novelty in 2013. Those familiar with the gold or green label should be prepared to be blown away by the platinum label.

The art of blending whiskey has been brought to perfection in this brand. Until recently, the blend was not for sale - it was reserved for private tastings and exclusive events. But now the doors have opened and everyone can enjoy this flavorful scotch, crafted from single m alt and grain whiskeys aged for at least 18 years.

Jim Beveridge selected casks from 25 distilleries and created a beautiful Scotch blend with a little speyside sweetness and a hint of smoky and peaty isle with fruity aromas.

Nothing but a small amount of water or a cube of very slowly melting ice should not be added here. Scotch is great on its own and deserves to be lauded as a carefully crafted drink that, according to tasters, is a worthy competitor to the Blue Label. However, for its respectable age, the drink is relatively inexpensive and justifies every dollar spent.

Green Label

Green Label lovers might have to go on a trip to get it. When the Johnnie Walker portfolio was rebranded in 2013, Green Label was pulled from the US market. She, they say, stayed where she is very popular,– in Taiwan.

This is a blend of four single m alt whiskeys selected "from the four corners of Scotland", each aged for at least 15 years. The taste is very smooth, honey, with hints of dried fruit.

Blue Label

The pinnacle of Johnny Walker's portfolio, Blue Label, is a scotch that can only be tasted on rare, usually very special occasions. It's a luxury that's among just a few drinks to round off a five-star meal.

"Blue Label" is made from rare varieties, many of which are made in already closed distilleries. According to the manufacturer, "only one in ten thousand barrels has the qualities necessary to create this mixture." The blend is characterized by the softness of sherry, honey and vanilla, contrasting with intense, dark chocolate peatiness. Johnny Walker believes that the best way to enjoy Blue Label is to chill the palate with a glass of icy spring water followed by a sip from a glass of cognac.

Each piece comes in a silk box with a certificate of authenticity and a unique serial number. Luxury, exclusivity and quality are built into the presentation, and the contents of the bottle do not disappoint. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whiskey is rich, rich and enveloping. Prunes, tobacco, cedar, shingles and hints of toffee emerge early in the tasting. Then orange marmalade, rose petals and cane sugar aromas emerge from behind a curtain of soft smoke. Finallyappears what every super-premium scotch should have - a combination of complexity and elegance. Clear peaty notes give way to fruity notes, followed by cedar, tea and spices. Long, lingering aftertaste will provide true whiskey connoisseurs with real satisfaction.

This is an expensive whisky. This is a special occasion scotch that delivers exactly what you would expect from a drink of this class and price - an unforgettable experience.