1. Johnnie Walker Black Label 12-Year-Old
The topic of this piece is about Johnnie Walker Black Label. Initially, I wasn’t accustomed to peat when drinking whiskey for the first time, and I remember giving it a negative review. However, as I tried more and more whiskeys and purchased Johnnie Walker Black, my opinion of it began to change.
I consider the 12-year-aged Black Label to be the best value for money among the Johnnie Walker series.
As I checked YouTube and various sources, I kept hearing about Johnnie Walker Black. Now I understand why. Johnnie Walker Black Label is the most popular Scotch whiskey. It’s impressive that many people use, drink, and seek it out, despite there being more expensive and sophisticated options.
Looking at the packaging, it’s a square glass bottle with a black label slanted on it. This common appearance now was truly remarkable when it was first released. Initially branded as Extra Special Old Highland Whisky, it was later rebranded to Johnnie Walker and obtained the name Black Label.
2. Other Lines of Johnnie Walker Black Label
There are more lines of Johnnie Walker Black Label than one might think. First, there’s the duty-free exclusive Triple Cask and Sherry Finish products. The Sherry Finish is aged in sherry casks, as the name suggests.
The Triple Cask, a collaboration with Jim Beveridge and Chris Clark, blends several original whiskies including grain whiskies from Cameron Bridge and Caledonian distilleries, finished sequentially in bourbon casks, Scotch casks, and Caribbean pot still rum casks.
Additionally, there’s the hard-to-find 2019 limited edition of Johnnie Walker Black Label, which blends whiskies from the four main Scotch whisky regions of Islay, Speyside, Lowland, and Highland.
3. Tasting Notes
The color is typical for whiskey, not too dark. On the nose, there are woody, smoky notes with hints of peat and a touch of citrus freshness. Despite only being aged for 12 years, bringing the nose close can sometimes cause the alcohol to tickle.
On the palate, initially, there’s a light sweetness followed by a growing saltiness over time. Then, there’s a hint of alcohol on the tongue followed by a vanilla flavor. After several sips, a nutty maltiness is detected.
Being a blended Scotch whiskey, it’s quite complex. The texture feels a bit light but is remarkably intricate with subtle flavor variations.
4. Product Information
Product Name: Johnnie Walker Black Label
Alcohol Content: 40%
Food Type: Whiskey
Ingredients: Whiskey Distillate 100%
Manufacturer: Diageo Scotland Limited
Country of Origin: Scotland (UK)
Volume: 200ml
5. Overall Review
In conclusion, Johnnie Walker Black Label is great value for money. The balance of smoky, vanilla, and fruity notes is commendable, but if smoky or peaty flavors are challenging, it might not be preferable.
I think Johnnie Walker Black Label is an excellent learning tool for those new to whiskey. Trying reasonably priced options like Ballantine’s 12-Year-Old can help you discover your own taste. I definitely intend to repurchase and would naturally recommend it to others.