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.
Very overrated product, but it is still good and reliable quality. I would easily prefer a single malt scotch over this again. But for this price, when bought on offer, Black label is very drinkable and a good solid whisky. Just don't expect to be surprised or particularly enjoy it, enormously. It is simply a good quality, reliable whisky.
I am consuming this whisky since 10 years but I am feeling very disappointed with the current batch of black label. It's missing the wonderful romance of Talisker and Caol Ila which I enjoyed a lot. It's more grainy and less peaty. Smoke character is reduced and I think content of Speyside malt n grain is increased significantly. Some problems for sure with 2017-18 batch.
I can't help noticing the plethora of content-free rave reviews from people who know nothing about whisky. This is extremely suspicious
I have bought many bottles of Black Label in my time as you knew what you were getting; quite complex, consistent and worth paying a little extra for. I have just opened a bottle after a hiatus of a couple of years and there is a bitter graininess which is tainting the experience. The blenders have been very clever; there are all the distinctive notes I expect from this whisky, the mouthfeel is excellent, the colour and legs are the same. But the heart has been ripped out of it. This is a sophisticated con job, which is exactly what we have come to expect of The Scottish Whisky Industry these days. A few psychotic CEOs have taken the world's most respected product and turned it into a travesty of itself. I bet they were hoping that no-one would notice. Well we all did. You disgust me.
In the past I came close to worshiping JWB. Recently, because my bottle was nearly empty, I purchased another (at a State store in Idaho, USA). Last night (Christmas), in the grips of the celebratory spirit, I tasted from the new bottle. I must say that I was greatly disappointed. "Kerosene" comes to mind. What on earth has happened? Some reviewers say that batches are inconsistent. Whether this is true or not, I will be very reluctant to buy another bottle in the future. This is a great tragedy. Might the distillery respond with a reassuring report?
