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Johnnie Walker
Scotland
Blended
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.
The fruity finish in this 12 year old is quite incredible. For the price this rivals some 15 year malts. True value for money. To those that find a bad bottle, well I haven't had that misfortune. I love this blend.
Used to be my favorite. Something changed. Tastes more like Red (not my favorite ever) now.
Firstly, I don't believe for a second that the copious amount of gushing reviews are genuine. I have been drinking whisky for more than three decades and I have to say, The Scottish Whisky Industry is in a shameful state. This is not accidental. I believe that a Parliamentary Inquiry should be conducted and the (many) culprits subject to excoriating fines and a ban from any Scottish business for life. As for Black Label, at one of time it occupied a very similar position to that of Rolex in the Sixties. It was a pivotal product. No more. I have bought several bottles of Black Label in the last few years. Every single one of them tasted different and every single one of them was inferior to the Black Label of just a few years ago. DIAGEO is in trouble, scrambling around for whiskies to make its signature product and no doubt causing several blenders to be considering a job change. There is a solution to this. MAKE LESS WHISKY.
It was still very good even a year ago... But current version is simply horrible, no smokey notes, harsh as Red, no taste.... Shame ... I don't think it is 12yo at all... I stopped drinking it after 30+ years... Shame...
The light came on when I tasted this for the first time. Even more so when I added water or ice. A beautifully smoky finish and pleasant flavour were further enhanced. I will still explore single malts but with Black Label I have found a home. Nothing the matter with a good blend.