Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old
Distillery: Johnnie WalkerStyle: 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.
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.
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.
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!!!).