Blended
Scotland
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.
Super
Should be a staple of everyone's whiskey cabinet! Although it's not the most refined of complex of Scotch, it's fine after a stressful day, or if you just fancy something easy. You can't buy a single malt this good for the price (In my opinion!) and most other blends are like drinking battery acid. Only beaten by blue, which unfortunately I cannot afford that as often as if wish, so black will do just fine.
This was my dads drink of choice and now it mine! Smooth and yet it does carry a bit of a bite Without the burn.
Very disappointing.
You just can't go wrong with it. While the "upper" colors like green, gold, double black, and blue seem like overpriced hype (green is quite drinkable, regardless), this is the value leader in the world of scotch. So satisfying, never disappoints.
