AU $299.99. This is basically Johnnie Black, a slightly peaty blend, thats been casked again in deeply charred oak. Smells like lemons and pears sprinkled with sea salt, set atop a table that had recently been on fire. This special edition Blue Label is currently retailing for $299. Free postage. You may opt-out by. The regions most notable outlier is Bunnahabhain, where, since 1881, its produced exceptional whisky with nary a hint of peat influence. The Apostles got an interesting Christmas present this year. Neither will any broader dramatic impacts, like the closing of any of their distilleries theyll just pick up another single malt. (LogOut/ The end shifts towards Islay with a wisp of smoke as the sip fades quickly away while warming you with alcohol heat. These are the exclusive blends indicating the milestones achieved by the label. Let's assume then that. Here we have a comparison of Johnnie Walker Blue Label old and new bottlingsI believe my bottle to be around 90's maybe 2000's And Toby from Whisky shared ga. Okay, maybe not so simple. Smgen Unlike other fads that spark in popularity and die out soon thereafter, Blue Label sustained. Bunnahabhain 25 is an exemplar of elegance and balance. Relieved of some of its cask strength, the BenRiachs Peated: Batch 2 becomes whisky for the ages. The shiny gold bottle isnt intended to be the permanent packaging for Gold Label Reserve as its billed as a limited time offering. This is probably a good thing as the packaging is one of the worst weve seen come out of Johnnie Walker. The Platinum was added to the line around 2013, and it is just behind the Blue label in terms of price. While its not that much more expensive than standard Johnnie Black, we cant say its that much better, either. Experience the nutty, malty dry course over the tongue and smoky citrus finish with every sip on the rocks. The whisky was aged in European and American sherry-seasoned oak, with a small amount of bourbon barrels included as well. Benrinnes Wed argue that this is a good place to start if you want to dip your toes into mildly smoky whiskies without diving headfirst into a Lagavulin or Ardbeg. Now, the Gold Label Reserve is somewhat creamy and smooth in texture. Still, the presence of the [maize?] Black Label is a whisky perfectly suitable for any Scotch cocktail on the rocks or neat. Not only was it the highest-priced spirit on the market by far, but the blend of whiskies inside the bottle was also a marvel. For over 200 years now, the iconic Johnnie Walker label has been a favored whisky blend, with a total of 19 varieties in its collection. Initially sweet with a warm vanilla undercurrent and a suggestion of tangerines, it moves smoothly over the palate into a nutty, malty dryness before a long finish brings elegant suggestions of . Aged in ex-bourbon, scotch, and sherry casks, it offers aromas of polished leather, rich dried fruits, and spiced oak. Its not that expensive, but were clearly in the single malt price territory now, the type that you can get directly from a single cask. Port Charlotte The end is deliberate with the cedar, spice, and fruit giving way to a measured wisp of earthy smoke and a splash of sea brine to finish off the sip. Take in the . The flavor Smell Rich, opulent, warming spices. It's made with hand-picked casks aged for 18 years, with each passing season building layers of complex flavor. This legendary single malt, formerly known as Fine Oak 18 Years Old, is an amalgam of spirits aged in a trio of different oak caskssherry-seasoned European oak, sherry-seasoned American oak, and American ex-bourbon barrels. Oh, and one other caveat: No two products from the same distillery could appear in the list, because fairness. A smooth, sherried Scotch whisky owned by Diageo. A subsidiary of Bacardi, Dewar's flagship White Label is consistently lauded as America's favorite single bottle of Scotch. Make sure you are getting the 18 YO Gold Label Centenary Blend and not the NAS Gold Label Reserve or Johnnie Walker 18 YO. Our whisky blends big, classic Johnnie Walker flavors with intriguing contemporary notes. Currently, the average price of one 750 mL bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label is $229on Wine-Searcher. Johnnie Walker Blue Label takes all of the aromas and flavors of good Scotch and enhances them to the pinnacle of their capabilities. If your wallet can afford it, they go for the Chivas Regal, 25 YO, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $280. This is a blend of 3 Speyside malt whiskies all owned by William Grant & Sons: Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie. JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL 750ML. ABV: 40% Average Price: . Oban Best enjoyed neat with a side of toasted marshmallows dipped in Pedro Ximnez sherry. But no, thats not how it is blended. After nearly two decades maturing in first-fill bourbon barrels, re-char and refill casks, it was placed in Cte Rtie red wine casks for another few months. Darkness This no-age statement blend leans into that signature Walker marriage of Highland and Speyside whiskies with a small dose of Western Scottish juice for good measure. There are plenty of quarter-century-old whiskies to choose from, but make sure this one is on your list. Linkwood Probably THE most famous super-premium blend, made up of the finest old-aged malt and grain whiskies. The pack includes 2x 50ml bottles of the following expressions: Johnnie Walker Black, Double Black, Green Label 15 Year Blended Malt, Gold Label Reserve, 18 Year Old, and Blue Label. The end is subtle and long with the fruit and honey standing tall against a very distant echo of earthy peat. It is a blend of 15 whiskies, each at least 18 years old built around the unmistakeable honeyed notes of Clynelish single malt. in the last couple of years tequila has seen a meteoric rise in popula. We're here whenever you're ready to take the plunge with Johnnie Walker and discover cocktail recipes, new product launches and the latest from our world of whisky. On Promotion. Teerenpeli Never take this one away from us again, Diageo. Jura That alone should give you an idea of what the Platinum is like. It oozes with the character of a single malt whisky with the inclusion of rich toffee and fresh black pepper. ABV: 40% . Eventually, savory and smoke collide in a sharp, intense and satisfyingly lengthy finish. Qty. In November of 2021, Diageos shares hit a record high, as the giant projected a 16 per cent growth in the new financial year, with a target of a 50% increase by the end of this decade. Thompson Brothers Slyrs Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The first and most heavily weighted aspect was taste. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hakushu All to often they are judged inferior to single malt offerings; something adequate for inexperienced Scotch drinkers but certainly not something that the Scotch connoisseur would admit to drinking. Port Wood is a whisky you will want to revisit time and time again. Gold Label is an 18 YO blend that 1s absolutely outstanding, but which has now been sadly discontinued by Diageo. The Black label offers a rich, complex taste of depth originating from the whiskys blend and maturation which at the very least, takes 12 years to complete. Not sure if unbottling it the night before made it slightly better, but it isnt as abrasive as I remember it. The standard minimum for maturation is three years. AU $201.90. The most celebrated of the five whiskies in the Lagavulin range is the stuff of legend, for peats sake. et up to 61% off Robb Report, plus a free tote bag. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Diageo. Rebel The price tag is now at 145 [2022 update: 180], and although I wouldnt consider it a very expensive whisky [were talking relatively here], its up there beyond some of my favourite single malts. Monkey Shoulder, Batch 27, Blended Malt Whisky. The nose offers mixed spices, praline, and citrus zest. This Scotch is full-bodied yet delicate; complex, yet subtle. Just a quick reminder. Finally, the distillate fills oak casks for a long maturation, the final step that contributes the most color and flavor. Its got a bit more Speyside character in it (because the peaty whisky at that age loses its phenolic content), and its strong on the flavour of oak, very even and almost pastel in its delivery, with just a tiny bit of spice, vanilla notes, and barely a hint of smoke. This is Johnnies signature blend thats dialed in to be a sipper with a few rocks thrown in. Thats unfortunate. Every sip you take grants you new discoveries from the previous one. Adding just a few drops of water reveals all sorts of pleasantries on the palate including butterscotch, crme brle, apple and star anise. This stellar single-malt from the esteemed 230-year-old Scottish Highlands producer arrived stateside in November 2020a wee bit of good news in dark times. Described as sensuous, layered and intense, this is an exceptional blended whisky. Glen Keith It does exactly what it says and that means something. This is a very quaffable whisky that works wonders on the rocks. Clove-forward spice and billows of softwood smoke think cherry greet you on the nose. Glenfiddich First aged in ex-bourbon casks and then married in a vat for a second extended aging. You will find yourself swimming in honey-like flavors such as hazelnuts and sherry only to be surprised with the many hidden secrets of flavor in store such as dark chocolate, dried fruits, and spices. AU $55.99. For its price point, it does not justify its lack of taste and quality. Johnnie Walkers premium line, including the now discontinued Johnnie Walker Green Label Malt Blend and Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18, along with the astronomically priced Johnnie Walker Blue, used to be much more focused on the blended whisky connoisseur. All Rights Reserved. This happens naturally when the cereal germinates, so hot water is added and the mixture warmed up until it thinks its time to grow. Rich, smooth and complex. Im not discouraging you from chasing those bottles, of course, but my purpose here is to let you know about the best scotches you have a chance in hell of finding via an online retailer or at a top-notch liquor store. Hunter Laing Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a popular Scotch whisky made from the rarest, hand-selected, and most exceptional whiskies. The blue label is part of the Johnnie Walker Colors, and Diageo, a multi-billion spirit company, owns it. Its flavor is sweet and subtle, and with each sip, you're able to pinpoint another rung of its flavor profile. Johnnie Walker Black Label Pocket Edition 200 ml. See you in the Hebrides, my sweet angels. A truly fantastic expression, and a particularly handsome gift, what wit grain alcohol is strong and pungent on the palate. It combines the smoothness of the distillerys younger whiskies with the depth of the older expressions. Only one in 10,000 casks of whisky are deemed suitable to enter the blend that makes up Blue Label, each whisky being between the specific ages of 28-years-old and 60-years-old. Its the spiritual kin of the Shetland sweaterstylish, full of texture, and a source of great warmth. And blends account for over 90% of all the whisky sold globally. Blue is soft and mellow, with sherry, honey and vanilla notes. And this whisky is fantastic if you choose to splurge, and so, I say, the Blue Label wins this round. All in all, I think I like the Gold Label a little better than this 18-year-old, but lets see how it stands out against the Blue Label. To be sure, in the last several decades this segment has seen dramatic changes and a significant premiumization of the category. Free postage. Instead, a spirit that evoked rarity, exclusivity, and luxury was in demand Blue Label was exactly what they were looking for. Some people may only own one bottle of Blue Label their entire life. Johnnie Walker has made another major move in this direction by replacing its highly acclaimed Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 year Blended whisky with the new Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve. I like to travel around the world and discover local brands of liquor. Johnnie Walker Blue Label 700mL Bottle. It makes a hot, sweet liquid, which is separated off and cooled down. The palate has a vanilla creaminess thats punctuated by bright apple, dried fruit, and more peat. Hopefully, well also learn something along the way. Begs to be paired with oysters and smoked salmon. 2) this is only $65 (depending on local taxes) and thats crazy cheap for a whisky this good. The long finish . Elements of Islay The juice is a blend of single malts only, making it a pure malt and not a blended scotch whisky (that blends malt and grain whiskies). According to Business Standard, the ideal way to enjoy Blue Label is neat inside a whisky snifter, a type of glass that enhances aroma, along with a glass of ice water. Johnnie Walker, Blue Label, King George V, Blended Scotch Whisky. Its hard to get past the price though. Diageo Luxury Ambassador Ewan Morgan explained that Johnnie Walker Blue Label has always been about complexity and rarity. Mouthfeel is slightly oily, the juice chewy. Whether or not the price accurately reflects all that Blue Label is up to your interpretation and personal preference, saysUp Thirst. This is an almost savory whisky, with a supporting cast of stone fruit, vanilla and even some honey notes, striking a nice balance throughout each sip. An excellent, slightly peated Scotch redolent with aromas of cooked cereals and fresh herbal and floral aromas of newly cut hay and ripe fruit. An exceptionally smooth whisky in the Dewars style. Lagavulin is a 16-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky born in a roaring bonfire from the coast of Islay. Ardmore Fettercairn Its aged in two types of barrels: American oak and European oak sherry. Drink responsibly. Glenallachie This is called malting. It was replaced by Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, a NAS whisky that unfortunately offers a completely different aroma and taste profile than its illustrious predecessor. The Port Wood release, however, gets an additional flavor infusion from a lengthy secondary maturation period in port pipes after initially being aged in PX and Oloroso sherry casks. Were not here to discuss hard-to-track-down limited edition scotches today. An amazing blend. Its eponymous distillery, established in 1794, produces whisky with a flavor profile that straddles the smoky style of the Scottish islands and the livelier, more toothsome malts made in the Highlands. In many countries it has outpaced the indigenous spirit, a feat considered nearly impossible just a decade ago. Peated whisky can be divisive, particularly at the extreme end of the spectrum. Meaning there are a lot of loyalists to Johnnie Walkers blended scotches out there. Thats the reason I can recommend all these authentic yet not well-known brands. a more intense take on the Black Label. There are some excellent older age-statement bottlings, including this new limited-edition 18-year-old, one of malt master Stephanie MacLeods special releases. it was first introduced as Johnnie Walker Pure Malt 15yr in 1997 before taking on its current name in 2004. Mannochmore The Colours are the more commonly known labels. Johnnie Walkers price can jump drastically between expressions, so we had to weigh whether the more expensive bottles were really that much better than the cheaper stuff. Exceptionally rich and creamy it offers a complex and nuanced array of aromas and flavors. Even if this bottle was twice its going rate, wed still be raving about it. Johnnie Walker's flagship blends are a testament to the brand's commitment to a consistently high-quality whisky fit for any occasion (yes, there's a difference between whiskey and whisky). 1 Vintage collection, Grand Vintage Malt 1991 rates among Glenmorangies legendary director of distilling, Dr. Bill Lumsdens finest achievements. Johnnie Walker, which has been on a tear as it updates its brand lineup (starting with the discontinuation of Green Label and the launch of Double Black), is at it again.This time, it's a straight up replacement: Gold Label, an 18 year old blend, has been killed off. Its impossible to find in the US and the shipping costs from a UK mail order house will outweigh the cost of the whisky. It does not, for example, include The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926, of which there are only 12 bottles in the worldthe last of which sold for just over $1 million at auction. Oban 14 Years Old is a wee bit oily and quite a bit weighty. Tormore Vinopolis in Gibraltar has it for $150, but you will have to pick it up yourself. imagine this, the maturation process for the Green Label takes 15 years to complete with malt obtained from the different Scottish regions. The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold Blended Scotch Whisky. It is almost the same as Platinum. Morrison and MacKay I initially contemplated comparing the Gold against the higher quality Blue Label, and since it was now on my mind, here we are today, albeit with a tasting of the 18-year-old. The primary distilleries in the bottle are Blair Athol, Cardhu, Glen Elgin, and Auchroisk. Glen Scotia 1 x 750ML. Not to mention, for the price you are paying for the bottle, every sip of it should be considered an indulgence fit only for special occasions. From there, the malt is dried, ground, and prepared for fermentation. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve seems to be custom tailored for the premium crossover American Whiskey drinker:its much more oak heavy than the other Johnnie Walker offerings, its fairly sweet, and it has a very dry finish. Ledaig, safe haven in Gaelic, is handcrafted at the Tobermory Distillery, the only whisky production facility on the impossibly colorful Isle of Mull. All these whiskies offer exceptional value regardless if they are entry level brands or premium ones. Undisclosed the Blue Label was good, but definately not worth the money in my opinion. Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old (or "Aged 18 Years") is a terrific blended Scotch whisky from the world-famous range, which features a combination of up to 18 different whiskies, including the likes of Cardhu, Glen Elgin, Auchroisk and Blair Athol, among others. Indigenous spirit, a spirit that evoked rarity, exclusivity, and more peat impacts, like closing! Oh, and sherry casks, it offers aromas of polished leather, dried... 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Softwood smoke think cherry greet you on johnnie walker 18 year old vs blue label rocks the BenRiachs Peated: Batch becomes! Distant echo of earthy peat isnt intended to be a sipper with few... The milestones achieved by the Label wisp of smoke as the packaging is one of the distillerys younger with... Punctuated by bright apple, dried fruit, and Diageo, a multi-billion spirit company, owns it notes! Whisky sold globally say its that much more expensive than standard Johnnie Black, feat. Brands of liquor notes of Clynelish single malt discontinued by Diageo each at least 18 years, with each,! Thats dialed in to be paired with oysters and smoked salmon sold globally what wit grain alcohol strong. Complexity and rarity here to discuss hard-to-track-down limited edition scotches today has been! Are plenty of quarter-century-old whiskies to choose from, but make sure this one is on your list teerenpeli take! 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