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.
Affordable blended scotch but there are inconsistencies between batches. 9 months ago I took a liking to JWB 12 yo due to its smoothness, relative smokiness and sweetness. Fast forward 3 months ago I bought a 1 litre bottle and the taste was indifferent-blandness and decreased smokiness. I wasn’t sure what to make of it-was it me or the 1 litre bottle. Unconvinced, I bought the 70cl bottle from a different shop and felt the same. I am very sure it was batch inconsistencies which is unfortunate. My guess is more grain whiskies were used to substitute malt whiskies. I could be wrong-after all, who am I to challenge the master blenders.
I've drank a lot of single malts from 8 to 40 yrs old. JWB is better than some of the cheaper malts that are less than 18 yrs old. It's definately a top blended scotch but a little expensive. Needs to be taken neat and sipped.
Not as good as Green or Gold label, but much better than Red. (If you like smoky taste)
New bottle, new day. The problems with inferior quality are still there. Nose is good. Arrival is ok. Charcoal flavor from reconditioned casks dominates the short finish which used to be much longer and richer. Diageo has gone too far by boosting production to make profit. This once iconic whisky is dead in my book which is a tragedy. Ill never buy it again.
This is let down by the signature charcoal flavor of reconditioned casks. Probably from the grain whiskies. They should stop over inflating the marketing and concentrate on keeping a consistent quality. Otherwise the more serious whisky fans will just stick to single malts.
