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Johnnie Walker
Scotland
Blended
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Johnnie Walker Black Label has a long history. It dates back to the late 19th century when John Walker & Sons of Kilmarnock had three blends in ascending order of age and price: Old Highland, Special Old Highland, and Extra Special Old Highland. These had white, red, and black labels respectively, and were known by their colour. Then in 1906, the three blends were relaunched as White Label, a five year old, Red Label, a nine year old, and Black Label, a 12 year old.
While Red Label would lose its age statement and White Label disappear altogether, Black Label is still a 12 year old blend – though it did go through a phase without an age statement. Its prestige status was trumped with the launch of the super swanky Blue Label in the late 1980s, but Black Label has never lost its cache. Across the world today, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label is a recognised currency and symbol of excellence.
The classic 12 Year Old Black Label is a blend majoring on Diageo’s Four Corners of Scotland distilleries Clynelish in the Highlands, Cardhu on Speyside, malt from Glenknichie and grain from Cameronbridge with a little smoke from Caol Ila.
Winter spice and treacle, hints of white pepper and a little citrus.
Rich and full with notes of wood smoke and dry spice, hints of barley and cereal with creamy toffee and a distinct herbal note.
Quite fruity and long with a note of sultanas and mixed peels.
JW Black was the first modestly-priced Scotch I found in Canada that wasn't harsh and had a lingering smoky aftertaste. It's lost a lot of its depth in recent years. If it hasn't already, it will serve as another example of a once-great brand bought and made more cheaply by a multinational comglomerate.
Underrated and overpriced these days (even at the UK supermarket offer price of 20 quid). I bought a bottle from an auction site that had been bottled in the 80s and that was vastly superior to the current distillation. It's such a shame as this whisky was great. I still drink it occasionally to try and recapture the delicious flavours of older bottlings, but it's sadly gone.
Opened a new bottle on the evening of 15th december,2021 to toast the memory of the late, great Christopher Hitchens on the 10th year after his death. He was a fan of this whisky throughout his world travels. Very sadly , no-one-thing whatsoever to be a 'fan' of in this once trustworthy blend ; a thin and lightweight taste of a smoky nothing-much-at-all . No 'body' just a 'thin' smoke and iodine. Someone is having a laugh - a dilute and mere gloaming of it's former self . This is a form of cultural dissemination writ large for 'gain' .
This is the first blend I’ve tried as I’ve been drinking single malts for years but the amount I’m going through I needed to find a cheaper alternative. Must say, I’m not impressed. It’s not bad, I was just expecting a more smokey flavour and the finish just fades away after a couple of seconds after swallowing. Seeing I could get a glenlivet for about another £2. Think I’ll stick to the single malts.
This is a nice blend for less than £30. Even the snobs (hah!) can't get mad at you enjoying this how you like it. Put it on some ice, add a small drop of cherry coke... Do whatever makes you enjoy life that little bit more. P.S. if reading this review makes you angry, remember, the best whisky is the whisky you like, the way you like to drink it.