whisky review

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky Review

Johnnie Walker Blue

Here we are… the top of the Johnnie Walker lineup.  I first heard of Johnnie Walker Blue Label in the early 2000s, before I was really into whisky.  Pre-Hurricane Katrina, a friend of mine was saving up for a bottle.   She called it her favorite “smoky Scotch.”  I’ve been intrigued ever since.  Of course, we know the toll that hurricane took on the city of New Orleans.  My friend never got to buy that bottle of JW Blue Label, although she still mentions it from time to time.  Fast forward many years – I have a sample bottle of the stuff in front of me.  As I dive into the whisky in my glass, I can’t help being reminded of the nearly empty fishbowl that sat on my friend’s desk with a sign that read “Johnnie Walker Blue Fund”.  Good times.

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Johnnie Walker Platinum Label Scotch Whisky Review

Johnnie Walker Platinum

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label is one of the brand’s newer permanent blends.  It’s inspired by the company’s tradition of creating exclusive blends for private gatherings.  Carrying an 18 year old age statement, this blended whisky replaces the former JW Gold Label 18 year in the lineup, and is positioned as a more premium offering than the current Gold Label Reserve.  After all, platinum is more valuable than gold.  A press release from Diageo, owner of the Johnnie Walker brand, states that the whiskies that constitute this blend are drawn from casks from between 20 and 25 distilleries.  Bottled at 40% abv, JW Platinum sits right under older brother Blue Label in terms of price with an SRP of $110.

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Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whisky Review

Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve

Our Johnnie Walker review series continues with one of the newest members of the brand’s permanent lineup, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve.  Until 2013, there was Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old.  That’s been dropped from the lineup and Diageo added this no-age statement blend and Johnnie Walker Platinum Label, aged 18 years.  We’ll get to a comparison between the two Gold Labels here at AdventuresInWhiskey.com soon enough.  JW Gold Reserve is a blended Scotch whisky, containing several malts, like Clynelish, blended with grain whiskies.  The result is a creamy take on the Johnnie Walker house style.

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