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Showing posts with label Johnnie Walker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johnnie Walker. Show all posts

Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Whisky Impressions

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Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Whisky Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: Johnnie Walker 
Name: Double Black 
Make: Blended Scotch Whisky 
Extra Info: Marketed as "...created in the style of Johnnie Walker Black Label but with a rich, more intense, smokier flavour." Johnnie Walker Double Black commands an extra 11% premium over the Black Label which in whisky terms, is really not a lot of money. I suspect that the extra richness and smokiness come from a higher proportion of Caol Ila whisky being used in the blend, but cask selection could have also played a part; since the Double Black recipe is not public knowledge, I can only guess.


Why did I buy it?

I received a bottle of Johnnie Walker Double Black as a house warming present and after tasting it, I am glad that I did. It's not something I would have picked up off the shelf myself, but it presented a good opportunity to taste it along side the Johnnie Walker Black Label.


What did I think of it?

Presentation: The same iconic narrow square-sided bottle but this time with black tinted glass and it is the bottle colour that makes it stand out next to it's slightly cheaper sibling.

Appearance: Pretty much exactly the same bright gold colour as the Black Label and also bottled at 40% ABV. 

Aroma: Noticeably smokier on the nose than the Black Label, but nowhere near Islay single malt levels. Mossy, earthy notes and faint vanilla. Although 'sweet' is a flavour not an aroma, there are hints of something sweet underneath.

Flavour: Surprisingly good. Very smooth and creamy, buttered toast with plenty of charcoal and sweet porridge perhaps with some honey drizzled on top. The smoke is there, but not overpowering. I can drink this neat without issue. 

Finish: Medium length finish with a spicy tingle that slowly fades. Inoffensive.


Would I buy it again?

Yes, Johnnie Walker Double Black is a great tasting and great value blend. Suitable for drinking neat and with ice or however you take it. It won't appeal to someone who dislikes smoky whisky but if you appreciate a little peat and are looking for a cheaper blended alternative for cocktails or drinking with ice and/or a mixer on hot summer nights, look no further than Johnnie Walker Double Black; a surprisingly good blended Scotch whisky. 


Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.

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Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Whisky Impressions

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Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Whisky Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Name: Black Label
Make: Blended Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Rumoured to contain over 40 different Scotch whiskies (the actual blend recipe is a closely guarded secret) all aged for at least 12 years, Johnnie Walker Black is the second lowest priced whisky in a long line of popular blends. What is known, is that a major component of Johnnie Walker Black Label comes from the Caol Ila distillery on the island of Islay, Scotland. The core 'Colours' range includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label 18 Year Old and Blue Label with many other special and limited editions on offer. Prices range from less than $40 to hundreds of dollars per bottle.

Why did I buy it?

I bought a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label because it is cheap, commonly available and immensely popular. Most whisky drinkers have tried at least one Johnnie Walker blend and many bars use Johnnie Walker Red Label as their standard mixing whisky. Everyone needs a good mixing whisky at home and I wanted to see if Johnnie Walker Black Label would do for me.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Iconic narrow square-sided bottle with as the name suggests, a black label. Gold writing and iconography contrast well against the black label on the clear glass bottle.

 Appearance: Bright gold in colour, with consistency and crystal clear clarity achieved through the use of caramel colouring and chill-filtration. Bottled at 40% ABV.

Aroma: Although most commonly drunk with a mixer, neat, it smells of sea spray, definite maritime elements with the faintest hint of smoke with some cedar, like stepping into a traditional sauna.

Flavour: I try blended whiskies a variety of ways, neat, on the rocks, with Coke, etc. Johnnie Walker Black Label with a sweet mixer reminded me of a misspent youth and mornings waking up to bad whisky breath and regret. With soda water and ice it was more palatable, but the regret remained.
Smooth, like most blends. Heavy on the vanilla, sweet and a little more smoke than on the nose. Some indistinguishable fruitiness. 

Finish: Some spicy tingle that fades quickly, leaving just that bad whisky breath and regret behind.

Would I buy it again?

No, there is nothing wrong with Johnnie Walker Black Label, it's just not my mixer whisky of choice. I don't like the aftertaste it leaves in my mouth and there isn't enough going on across the nose and palate for me to want to drink it. I certainly would not judge someone for liking it, many people do the world over. If you like it great, if you don't and are looking for another blended Scotch, there are plenty of others to choose from including other expressions from Johnnie Walker. 

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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