1. Johnnie Walker Double Black Label
The focus of this article is on Johnnie Walker Double Black. The name itself suggests that it offers a smokier experience compared to the regular Black Label.
Originally introduced as a limited edition in duty-free shops in 2011, Double Black gained such popularity that it became a regular part of the lineup. Include photo descriptions. Master Blender Jim Beveridge blended over 40 whiskies, intensifying the smokiness of the existing Johnnie Walker Black Label.
The spirit is matured in casks that strongly char the original liquid, and it incorporates the distinctive whiskies from the west coast of Scotland (like Caol Ila, Talisker, etc.).
Unlike Black Label, Johnnie Walker Double Black is labeled as a No Age Statement (NAS) product, meaning that the specific age of the whisky is not indicated.
1. Johnnie Walker
1) Johnnie Walker Story
When we talk about the famous Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker, it’s a brand that originated in 1867. Among its product lineup, only Green Label is a blended malt whisky, while all other products are blended whiskies (malt + grain).
To briefly explain the types of whiskies, using only malt results in malt whisky, while using grains other than malt produces grain whisky.
Here, blended malt whisky refers to a blend of malt whiskies from different distilleries, and blended whisky includes a mix of both malt and grain whiskies.
The founder of Johnnie Walker is John Walker (1805-1857). He started with a small grocery store in Kilmarnock, Scotland, where he sold blended malt and blended grain whiskies.
His son, Alexander, inherited the business and the art of blending. With the legalization of blending malt and grain whiskies, they adeptly embraced this trend, gaining considerable popularity.
At that time, all liquor bottles were round, but in 1870, Johnnie Walker introduced the iconic square bottle. As the railway connected Kilmarnock and the port, significant growth ensued.
Entering the 1900s, the whisky lineup (White, Red, Black) was organized, and a cartoonist who admired the whisky gifted the character Striding Man. Later, the premium Blue Label was added. Striding Man In 1997, with participation in the Distillers Company (a consortium of whisky distilleries), various liquor companies, and financial institutions merged, giving rise to the colossal drinks company known as Diageo.
2) Tasting Notes
I opened on Johnnie Walker Double Black yesterday and shared it with a friend, and to be honest, I was quite surprised. Especially my friend, who claimed that Double Black became his new favorite whisky, ended up drinking around 200ml alone shortly after.
At first, I couldn’t distinguish the smokiness and peatiness well. However, as I tried whiskies like Smoky Scot, Double Black Bottle, I began to understand the sensation more accurately.
The color is a deep gold that immediately catches the eye.
The nose starts with a distinct smoky peat aroma. Continuously, you can also sense sweet notes and citrusy hints like lemon or tangerine. However, I couldn’t detect the barbecue scent mentioned in the tasting notes.
In terms of taste, unlike the nose, smokiness dominates over peatiness. As it lingers in the mouth, there’s a slight sweetness and woody undertone, lacking spiciness, and the finish is relatively light considering the 40% alcohol content. I couldn’t identify the flavors of butter or custard.
The finish is characterized by a lingering smokiness, and after the smoke dissipates, a nutty flavor becomes noticeable.
3) UnderRocks, Highball
The recommended way to enjoy Johnnie Walker Double Black, according to the Johnnie Walker website, is through “On the Rocks.” They suggest pouring 50ml of Double Black into a whiskey glass filled with ice.
Even when consumed “On the Rocks,” the aroma and flavor may slightly mellow, but it’s still enjoyable. There’s no overwhelming sensation, making it easier to appreciate the nuts finish without any lingering harshness, as noted when drinking it
It also works well as a Highball. I tried it with both soda water and ginger, and the combination with ginger tonic was particularly pleasing.
The sweet ginger tonic complemented the smokiness of Double Black exceptionally well.
4) Product Information
Product Name: Johnnie Walker Double Black
Manufacturer: Diageo Scotland Limited
Alcohol Content: 40%
Food Type: Whisky
Ingredients: 100% Whisky
3. Overall Review
Overall, Johnnie Walker Double Black is a great value whisky. The smoothness and smokiness are commendable. Especially compared to Black Label, the quality difference seems far superior considering the price gap. A friend who shared it with me also found it to be the most enjoyable among the whiskies we tried together. It’s a versatile whisky that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a highball.