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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

Read stories about Johnnie Walker of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
The articles are sorted by publication date. You can either browse here, check the featured articles section or use the search bar on the top of this page.

Why I hate Johnnie Walker

By Miguel in Featured , Ardbeg , Johnnie Walker , The Macallan , Whisky

Well, hate is a too strong word, so maybe dislike may be better. Umm!… no, hate is fine, pure distilled clear hate. But anyway, let me explain it to you…

200L20L

As you know I am from Spain, a country that in less than forty years moved from very poor to reasonably rich ( and it looks like back at fullspeed to poor again ) place. So, as in most in-development countries we had an special interest in those kind of luxury products that come from abroad, for example, Rolex watches, Mercedes Benz cars and Scotch whisky.

Fusion TIFF File

So imagine, a country where monthly income moved from £150 to £1500 in less than twenty years… so we were a nice market niche for Scotch Whisky industry, despite the fact that Spanish biggest selling whisky is DYC. So we were invaded with hordes of best whiskies Scotland could produce; Johnnie Walker Red Label, Ballantines, J&B, Cutty Sark, Dewars White Label,… you get an idea of the situation, don’t you?

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Johnnie Walker Red Label named Best Whisky in the World

By Miguel in News , Johnnie Walker

Oh my God! What a great night we had! After tasting four thousand single malt whiskies in a row and not being able to choose a clear winner someone appeared between the panelist of this prestigious whisky award with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label and said: “Thou guys hafe to tafte thif one…iz zoo awezome!” and you know, being late, the preasure to choose a winner before we skip the deadline for a third time…

Anyway, despite we weren’t on the best condition after several not-too-bad 40 years old single cask whiskies, we agree to taste this pinnacle of blenders’ artwork.

We took the first sip, someone at the other corner of the table collapsed but I am not sure if it has something to do with this delicious ambrosia, and then the rest of us that were able to stand up agreed that this was the very best whisky Scotland has ever produced.

Soo, here it is! Congratulations to Johnnie Walker for this very-well deserved award!.

I usually provide links to shops so you can buy the drink I am talking about but our panelist told us that the bottle was so rare and exclusive it wasn’t available on whisky shops. I am sorry.


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Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve Blended: Rip-off

By Miguel in Tasting , Johnnie Walker

“Disappointing! Smells young and tastes light. I want old Gold Reserve back ”

85
Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
A blended whisky in the Johnnie Walker range, building on the success of the previous 18 year Gold Label. Built around a core of single malt whisky from Clynelish, the Gold Label is a great addition to the lineup from master blender Jim Beveridge.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (86): more than average. honey, floral, citrus, vanilla. Smells young. This is nowhere close to the old Gold Label.

Palate (85): light. honey, floral, pepper, vanilla.

Finish (83): average. honey, smoke.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky with 85 points over 100.

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Tasting Johnnie Walker 18 years old Platinum

By Miguel in Tasting , Johnnie Walker

“Not sure if this Johnnie Walker Platinum is a bit step over old Gold Reserve, but definitively it is over the actual bottle”

89
Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old Platinum Label Blended Scotch Whisky
Originally introduced solely into travel retail, the Platinum Label (the first new'colour' to be introduced into the Johnnie Walker range for years) has now made it out into the wider world. It's a rich and refined blend of whiskies matured for at least 18 years that slips perfectly into the range just behind the iconic Blue Label.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, spices, smoke, citrus.

Palate (89): powerful. honey, peat, vanilla, fruits, smoke.

Finish (89): longer than average. honey, floral, smoke.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old Platinum Label Blended Scotch Whisky with 89 points over 100.

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Johnnie Walker Double Black: Double what?!

By Miguel in Tasting , Johnnie Walker

“I was hoping and crossing my fingers for this to be more peated. Unfortunately it is barely smoked”

86
Johnny Walker Double Black
The whisky was created taking Black Label as a blueprint and adding heavily-peated malts and some aged in deeply charred oak casks. It is a "limited" release.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (85): average. honey, floral, vanilla. Young! WTF! The same smell that Red Label has!

Palate (86): light. honey, floral, citrus, smoke.

Finish (86): average. honey, smoke.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnny Walker Double Black with 86 points over 100.

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New Johnnie Walker whiskies: Double Black, Gold Reserve and Platinum

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Johnnie Walker

I will tell you a secret, I am not a big fan of Johnnie Walker whiskies.

Being from Spain, I am used to have at hand a wide amount of great deluxe whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red Label, Chivas Regal 12 years old or the epitome whisky! Johnnie Walker Black Label. Grin. Sad grin. I want to cry! Really!.

As you can imagine the first time I tasted a single malt I was hit with all the strength of seven centuries of awesome creations. Now I really understand why the little man in Johnnie Walker’s bottles keep walking…

Anyway, while my visit at The Whisky Show 2012 I had the chance of tasting at Diageo stand the three new Johnnie Walker’s proposals: Double Black, Gold Label Reserve and Platinum Reserve.

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TWE Whisky Show 2012: What I couldn't taste [Part 4]

By Miguel in Laphroaig , Cooley , Chivas , Johnnie Walker , The Macallan , Dewar , Penderyn , Bunnahabhain , Compass Box , Monkey Shoulder , Glenfiddich , The Balvenie , Kilchoman , Highland Park , Bowmore , Yoichi , Nikka , Suntory , Balblair , Redbreast , Glenfarclas , Connemara , Ichiro , Rosebank , Benriach , Glendronach , Old Pulteney , Dalmore , Glen Garioch , Big Peat , Glenglassaugh , Glenrothes , Maker's Mark , Hibiki , Four Roses , Glencadam , Wemyss , Douglas Laing

This post continue from TWE Whisky Show [Part 3]

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2012 took place at October 6th and 7th and although it has been a great experience it has been a short one. With over 450 whiskies to taste and just barely six hours ahead it was impossible to taste them all.

What I couldn’t taste

This post is just a set of photos of what I couldn’t taste. Sorry, people… I can write about this because I get sad… so great stuff that I had to skip… *sniff*

I visited Compass Box stand for saying hi to Chris and I take a few photos with the people on the show.

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TWE Whisky Show 2012 [Part 1]

By Miguel in Featured , Jameson , Glenlivet , Chivas , Johnnie Walker , Cardhu , The Balvenie , Talisker , Kavalan , Brora

Taking place during October, 6th and 7th, The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is a fantastic, although expensive, experience that you can’t miss if like me you love single malt whiskies.

fun-that-way-twe-whisky-show-london-2012

Day One

Here I am! In London! For TWE Whisky Show. As Oliver Klimet from Dramming is also going to attend it we plan together a meeting in London for a few beers and nice british pub food at Lord Wargraves. Billy Abbot from The Whisky Exchange also join us.

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Johnnie Walker Blue Label Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Johnnie Walker

“Very expensive this Johnnie Walker Blue Label but at least it is a good whisky. My favourite after Johnnie Walker Green Label”

90
Johnnie Walker's Blue Label
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is their rarest blend.

Blue Label is created from the rarest and most expensive whiskies in the world, this iconoclastic scotch whisky has the authentic character and flavour of a traditional nineteenth century blend, just like those that John Walker and his son Alexander developed for their most valued customers.

At the heart of Blue Label is Royal Lochnagar, a rare malt distilled near Balmoral, the Queen's holiday home. Around 15 other mature and precious whiskies are added to balance Blue Label perfectly - 'a blend that cannot be beat', (Alexander Walker, 1888).

Don't get me wrong. It is a great whisky, but for that price you can buy better single malt whiskies.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, spices, fruits, cinnamon, vanilla.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, smoke, spices, floral, citrus, cocoa.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, wood, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Blue Label with 90 points over 100.

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