JW Black Label

[jazz lover]

JW Black is very good, JW Gold is Excellent !

[Reggaeblues]

I twice tasted Gold and was much impressed. bought a bottle in duty Free and found it singularly unimpressive...bad batch maybe, but I won't be buying again.

[Gov]

But, Johnnie Walker Green is the best of the Walker bunch!

[Gov]

Inverhouse's Green Plaid

The stuff is $5.50 for 750ml bottle, is this really pretty good? Tasting notes please. I would be interested in how it stands up to Grants, Teachers, Grouse, White Horse.

[OKDiver1]

I enjoyed JWB a few years ago, following a trip to Singapore where it was the hotel's standard call drink. I had a few bottles after that. Then, nothing for about 4 or 5 years. I got a couple last year, if only for sentimental reasons. It was nothing like I remembered, which was rich, dense, smokey and thick.

And then I had again on a plane on two or three different occasions. It was absolutely wonderful. I do not know if everything tends to taste better when flying, but I thoroughly enjoy JWB when on a plane.

[Gearóidmuar]

I've both Green and Black at the moment. I find Black as good as nearly all the single malts I've had, and that's lots. Green is more complex and is lovely. People should forget this single malts vs. blend stuff. True, the common blends are cheap and have grain whiskey etc. in them, but the good blends are as good as anything and better than many. Irish whiskey has very few single malts, as we don't have the single malt snobbery virus!. Most of the great wines are blends. Who ever heard of a single bush wine? Or a single acre beer?

[Sherried Malt]

But, Johnnie Walker Green is the best of the Walker bunch!

Agreed! And by quite a distance too, IMHO.

[TheTross]

I enjoyed JWB a few years ago, following a trip to Singapore where it was the hotel's standard call drink. I had a few bottles after that. Then, nothing for about 4 or 5 years. I got a couple last year, if only for sentimental reasons. It was nothing like I remembered, which was rich, dense, smokey and thick.

And then I had again on a plane on two or three different occasions. It was absolutely wonderful. I do not know if everything tends to taste better when flying, but I thoroughly enjoy JWB when on a plane.

I think location, and even frame of mind has a bearing on how much you enjoy a certain drink. I remember drinking JW Red whilst on a snowboarding holiday a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it after a hard, tiring day on the piste (steady now!) - so much so that I bought a 1L bottle in duty free to drink at home. Once at home, however, it tasted nothing like what it did when on holiday and I really didn't like it, so I ended up 'accidentally' leaving it at a friend's house so that his dad could mix it with ginger ale.

[orangedogofglory]

But, Johnnie Walker Green is the best of the Walker bunch!

Agreed! And by quite a distance too, IMHO.

Also agree - I've never really had a problem with JW Black before, but then I had Green at a tasting on Monday night, and then came home and had Black.

Huge difference.

Green is the only way to go, IMO - and with the savings of about US$150 over Blue ( ) I think it is the best purchase for a blend in this line.

[lohssanami]

I enjoyed JWB a few years ago, following a trip to Singapore where it was the hotel's standard call drink. I had a few bottles after that. Then, nothing for about 4 or 5 years. I got a couple last year, if only for sentimental reasons. It was nothing like I remembered, which was rich, dense, smokey and thick.

And then I had again on a plane on two or three different occasions. It was absolutely wonderful. I do not know if everything tends to taste better when flying, but I thoroughly enjoy JWB when on a plane.

I think location, and even frame of mind has a bearing on how much you enjoy a certain drink. I remember drinking JW Red whilst on a snowboarding holiday a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it after a hard, tiring day on the piste (steady now!) - so much so that I bought a 1L bottle in duty free to drink at home. Once at home, however, it tasted nothing like what it did when on holiday and I really didn't like it, so I ended up 'accidentally' leaving it at a friend's house so that his dad could mix it with ginger ale.

Haha...anytime there are no choices and fatigue involved, any whisky can taste like a desireable whisky. That being said, I really enjoyed JW Black at Paradise Island in Disney World after 90F+ degrees, high humidity, all day at the park and the only whisky available.

[hilliamash]

Hey Gov,

Yes, the Green Plaid is better than the price would indicate. It's definitely a young spirit from my tasting, and a grain heavy blend, but got a whiff of smoke in there as well. I would say that it's definitely worth the try for the $. I didn't think about trying this one at first, but Jim Murray gave it a 90/100 score, so I thought, "What the heck." I have to admit that it was quite tasty for a cheap....err...value blend. Mind you, I think that WH and Teacher's is better...but on a hot day, I enjoy the Plaid. See what you think.

[Gov]

Thanks! I may have to give it a try. I may pick up Clan MacGregor as well. I think Jim Murray speaks highly of that blend as well.

[kyorke1]

Quite possibly one of the worst whisky's I have ever tried, right down there with Famous Grouse.

Try it again, then. It's actually rather excellent.

I can see myself trying Black Label again after reading a lot of the comments, admittedly, when I first tried Black Label, I was only just starting to get into whisky.

[Gov]

Quite possibly one of the worst whisky's I have ever tried, right down there with Famous Grouse.

Try it again, then. It's actually rather excellent.

I can see myself trying Black Label again after reading a lot of the comments, admittedly, when I first tried Black Label, I was only just starting to get into whisky.

Try it again for sure, it is much better after getting your taste for whisky

[vengey]

Just finished my first bottle off yesterday. I received it at Christmas and it has lasted a few weekends since then.

I enjoyed it but not as much as I do most malts. I find I needed to be in just the right mood to go to this one. I would generally have it in the late afternoon time, as opposed to evenings for others.

I offered this to a few people who don't usually drink Whisky and they all enjoyed it. It does seem to be an easy drinker.

[Gov]

Was at a wedding reception last night and drank quite a few drams of JWB. It was magnificent!! I like this blend more and more with each tasting of it. When drinking it outdoors, I was getting a lot of black licorice.

[borgom]

I really do respect JWBL and enjoy the odd drink if it's offered to me but I just can't reconcile spending the money on this when I can almost buy Ardbeg 10 or HP12 for the same.
If we stick with blends I actually prefer Ballantine's 12, Dewars or Grants.

[Novice Scotch Fan]

I just find it a little to "spirity" for myself. Now Johnny Gold....

I quite agree!

In general, a lot of people turn their nose up at Johnnie Walker regardless of the label (ie. red, black, green, gold and blue). I think this is due in part due to the fact that it is very much in vogue to dismiss it. You see the same thing among wine connosieurs with respect to Robert Mondavi wines. Sometimes a super successful producer becomes fashionable to knock and i think that is the case here.

and now for my low brow opinion . . . .

JW red is absolutely dreadful and should be used on guests you dont like or for mixing.

JW Black is a good benchmark blend that is good value for money. Now if you want to be a bit extravagant . . .

JW Green is good . . . .the Gold very very good (I am a huge fan) and the Blue? its good, but ridiculously over priced.

Bottom line JW Black is a good blend that i think stands up to some Single Malts.

There is a great snobbery about blends versus single malts that i usually cure by blind taste tests of JW Gold to people who turn their noses up to blends. As they blindly praise the JW Gold, I show them that it is indeed a blend. Happens all the time.

Bottom line is what do u think? Do you enjoy it? if so, thats all that matters!

[RogerB]

But, Johnnie Walker Green is the best of the Walker bunch!

I've never tried the JW Gold, but of the others I'd probably concur with this. JW Blue is very very good, but it's not $150 better. JW Green is certainly very competitive with anything in the JW line, and for the price it's by far my favorite.

[hilliamash]

I do appreciate the JW Green, but it reminds me of White Horse as well. Gov, you get the same from it? I like most of the JW line, and they definitely range from the simple to the complex, but overall enjoyable. However, they are all overpriced, so this prevents full enjoyment of them.

[Gov]

I do appreciate the JW Green, but it reminds me of White Horse as well. Gov, you get the same from it? I like most of the JW line, and they definitely range from the simple to the complex, but overall enjoyable. However, they are all overpriced, so this prevents full enjoyment of them.

Are you saying that JWG reminds you of White Horse?

[hilliamash]

Yeah, the two remind me of each other. Granted, the WH is a bit more spirity and doesn't have that luciousness of a vatted malt, but the flavors are similar to me! Perhaps one of my delusions...I seem to have many.

[Novice Scotch Fan]

I've both Green and Black at the moment. I find Black as good as nearly all the single malts I've had, and that's lots. Green is more complex and is lovely. People should forget this single malts vs. blend stuff. True, the common blends are cheap and have grain whiskey etc. in them, but the good blends are as good as anything and better than many. Irish whiskey has very few single malts, as we don't have the single malt snobbery virus!. Most of the great wines are blends. Who ever heard of a single bush wine? Or a single acre beer?

I think the scotch (blend or single malt) drinking experience has in part something to do with the mood and atmosphere of a situation. I am fond of JWB partly because I associate it with friendly card games with relatives. It is the only scotch they drink.

Sometimes I drink it alone and think to myself, damn this is good stuff for the price. There is a decent length to it, nice flavour, and interesting smoke and a hint of peat. It is not the best dram out there, but for the price, it is pretty damn good stuff.

Yes, JW Red is dreadful but the black is a world apart.

As one reviewer said, it really is the benchmark that I measure everything else against. There are a lot of Single Malts that dont measure up.

I always enjoy doing a blind taste test on my single malt snob friends and listen to the praise for the dram till i reveal it is JWB.

[talisker10]

It's just awful stuff. I even like Red label better. I could barely finish the little bottle I had in my mini-bar. The experts (with all due respect) are plain loco on this one.

[Gov]

It's just awful stuff. I even like Red label better. I could barely finish the little bottle I had in my mini-bar. The experts (with all due respect) are plain loco on this one.

If you happen to be a new to whisk(s)y, your taste will change. When it does, revisit JWB from time to time. You may find that you may grow fond of it. JWB is always worth a revisit.

[borgom]

Agree with you Gov.
Definitely worth trying from time to time, not just because your tastes might change but also because the whisky changes too.
I've had some glasses of JWB that really reminded me of Cragganmore and others that seemed heavy on Cardhu and then some that were more integrated and balanced.
Mind you there's very few whisky's I don't respect these days (even blends!).
Think I might buy some JWR & JWB for a head to head.

[hilliamash]

Agreed, Gov. I didn't care for it initially, but now find it quite tasty.

[talisker10]

..you know part of the problem maybe is the night I tried JWB I had three Taliskers at the bar a couple of hours before. Maybe I was unintentionally comparing and JWB is going to lose that one everytime. I'll give it another shot some time.

[bamber]

..you know part of the problem maybe is the night I tried JWB I had three Taliskers at the bar a couple of hours before. Maybe I was unintentionally comparing and JWB is going to lose that one everytime. I'll give it another shot some time.

It's funny because the time I tried Talisker it kind of reminded me of JWB. Not so much now though.