Johnnie Walker Blue Label

By Barry Bradford on October 20, 2016 • ( 1 Comment )

Johnnie Walker Blue Label (40%, Diageo, 2016)

Category: Blended scotch whisky
Bottling: Diageo
ABV: 40%
Cost: £129.38

What they say:

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an unrivalled masterpiece. It is an exquisite blend made from some of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies. Only one in every ten thousand casks has the elusive quality, character and flavour to deliver the’ remarkable signature taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. An extraordinary whisky for extraordinary occasions.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is incomparably rich and smoky, with velvety smooth breaking waves of powerful flavour.

In 1867, John Walker’s son, Alexander, created his remarkable ‘Old Highland Whisky’ blend. It was a masterpiece of the blender’s art that drew together the finest flavours from the four corners of Scotland to create something rare and exceptional. Johnnie Walker Blue Label commemorates Walker’s Old Highland Whisky, a statement of whisky excellence that stays true to the genius of the Walker name.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label has won many major awards, including six Le Monde Selection Grand Golds and three Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Created from hand-selected casks of some of the rarest and most exceptional whiskies, there is no sensory experience quite like Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Hazelnuts, honey, sherry and oranges tumble in first, before releasing hidden secrets like ginger, kumquats, sandalwood and dark chocolate. A rich honey sweetness emerges, accompanied by hints of pepper and dried fruits, before an impossibly long, lingering, smooth finish of perfectly balanced, soft smoke.

What I say:

The ultra-premium Johnnie Walker Blue Label comes with a price tag that would suggest great age and rarity of the casks blended to make this masterpiece, yet no age is declared and the mystery of the malts and grains making up this blend are maintained. As we have just visited Cardhu – the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker I felt it timely to write-up this review from a few weeks back in which we sampled a little Blue label and a lot of Green label!

Colour:

Full amber gold (10/20), medium tears and legs which resolve finer

Nose:

Fruity and perfumed, fragrant and subtle, oak wood, berry fruits, sandalwood, rose, milk chocolate, vanilla, biscuit, pepper, sweet spices, freshly grated nutmeg, a wisp of smoke and buttery popcorn

Taste:

Very smooth, butterscotch, toffee, caramel, slightly fruity raspberry, strawberry, oak wood, spiced pepper, malty biscuit, milk chocolate, hints of peat smoke and sun-dried raisins in equal measures

Finish:

Medium, spiced and drying initially, liquorice? oak wood, wisps of peat smoke, dried fruit, all light and ethereal

Overall:

Incredibly smooth, hints of peat smoked barley and dried sherry fruits but mostly a mass of melt-in-the-mouth butterscotch. Considering the price tag, I found this OK – a very nice blend and wonderful mouthfeel – but it didn’t blow me away…