johnnie walker black label 12 years old
- Distillery
- Johnnie Walker
- Style
- Blended
- Release
- Unspecified
- Age
- 12 Years
- Alcohol
- 40% abv.
- Region
- Scotland
- Bottled For
- Distillery
The award winning Johnnie Walker Black Label remains as rich and smooth today as it was when Johnnie Walker's son and grandson were master blenders. It's been called "the Savoy, the Everest of deluxe whiskies" and outsells every other product in its category. That it has stood the test of time is a testament to the skills and determination of the Walker family and those who have inherited it's custodianship since.
review by anonymous
- Color
- A bit of the orange side of honey
- Nose
- Light smoke, lighter earth, faint cotton candy
- Body
- Smooth but whole
- Palate
- Alcoholic, earthy and faint smoke. A bit of water brings balance. Sweeter on the next sip, and the next.
- Finish
- Short finish, smoke as you exhale, then clean.
This was surprisingly good. Not a knock-out punch like Islay malts, but very nicely balanced and smooth. Also affordable. Very good default sipping whiskey.
review by anonymous
- Color
- Deep Gold, Chestnut
- Nose
- Caramel, smoke
- Body
- Full bodied, oily
- Palate
- Oiliness gives way to smoky peat, vanilla, toffee
- Finish
- Long and warming, spicy flavors
Not quite Laphroaig but a very enjoyable blend.
review by coloradodram
- Color
- Medium-light amber.
- Nose
- Oxidizing metal (like a handful of old coins), nondescript flowers, fruit, and smoke.
- Body
- Very oily and creamy grab on the tongue. Medium-full bodied.
- Palate
- Tasty balance of fruit, flowers, pepper, and light smoke. The malt is almost lost here.
- Finish
- Peppery, medium length, medium warmth. Balances smooth and dry well.
This is a really good and consistent blend. If you just don't know what you're in the mood for (and you're not seeking to discern any complexities in a single-malt 'tasting'), then happily pour the mix of 40 that the malt masters at JW picked to bring the kitchen sink of fruit, flowers, smoke, nuts, oak, dry, creamy, smooth-finishing scotch called Black Label. I've tasted some my parents opened 20 years ago and it's as consistent as a 2008 bottle at my house.
review by heavy
- Color
- Deep golden.
- Nose
- Oak, sherry, some leather or plastic notes, but nothing unpleasant.
- Body
- Good medium thick legs, smooth, but watery.
- Palate
- Oak, leather, spicy (ginger mostly) and fruity (orange peel and plums). Warming.
- Finish
- Medium-long, spicy, a bit salty. Pretty warming
This is my most often choice. It's probably the best in its price category. Simple, but truly nice blend.
review by mandrake
- Color
- Warm amber
- Nose
- Darkly fruity, raisins and currants. Caramel and a hint of smoke.
- Body
- Medium body, a bit watery.
- Palate
- Blackcurrant and wood, lighter notes too. Apple and a bit of heather.
- Finish
- Slightly abrupt and not particularly well integrated. Fruity notes, hint of smokiness.
Surprisingly good blend, a massive step up from the Red.
review by anonymous
- Color
- amber
- Nose
- burnt raisins, smoke, rich fruit
- Body
- chewy , smooth and silky.
- Palate
- raisins again, fruit, very chewy, medium smoke, perfect balance.
- Finish
- long with some bite of peat and fruit.
This is the best blend money can buy. Brilliant balance of so many layers.
review by dr.whisky
- Color
- The way orange chocolate fudge tastes
- Nose
- Sweet, apples and honey, soft brown pears, custardy cream smell, cakey, lively and fresh in the nose. malted barley and a good whisky smell. Not necessarily a peatiness, but a definite burnt or toasty character about it.
- Body
- Has a grainy assertiveness that keeps you on your toes. Tingly and warming like good ballet.
- Palate
- Subtle and constantly changing in the mouth. Starts really sweet, but a nice sweet, like kissing rather than talking about kissing. Moves into oaky territory, winey and grapey with leafy breezes of herbal tastes. Slowly developing long finish of smoky clothes sweetened with a body spray of vanilla, apples and honey.
- Finish
- Pleasantly sweet for introductions and then takes you on a pleasant ever-developing flavour ride. Long finish.
I like this stuff. Innovation in blending passed down through generations. Clever opportunism. Marketing genius. Branding and re-branding. Skill to be able to constistenly blend a tasty whisky for over 150 years. Put it in a sexy bottle to decorate our shelves and you have a world-class knock-out blend. "Maybe" at full price, "yes" on offer, "of course" at duty free (crazy deals in the middle east!!!).
