Blue is the colour
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a thoroughbred whisky but does it live up to the hype? Ian Buxton got close and personal
When you think about it, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a little like the impressively large marine mammal that shares its colour.
Like the blue whale, itâs rare, rather precious and, even if you donât see one every day, itâs good to know itâs there.
At around £150 a bottle Blue Label is always going to be something of a luxury. It might not be strictly necessary but weâd all be a little bit worse off without it. After all, you may not be able to afford it today but we all need something to strive for. Life would be pretty dull without targets.
The Johnnie Walker range can be traced back to 1867 when Alexander, Johnnieâs son, first blended the whisky that we know as Black Label. Today, itâs the best-selling premium whisky in the world.
The family has grown since then. Next came Red Label (c1909) to be joined eventually by Gold and Green Labels (formerly Johnnie Walker Malt). Blue came along in 1992.
Unlike most of the whisky world it doesnât carry an age statement, despite its superpremium price tag. Why?
Maureen Robinson, Diageoâs Scotch liquid development manager and one of the original blending team, explains that the goal was to emulate the powerful character of a traditional 19th century blend.
Thatâs an interesting challenge. Whisky was fuller flavoured back then, with a more pronounced taste and greater âpeat reek.â After all, as late as 1930, Aeneas MacDonald could write: âThe convenient proximity of a peat bog is an economic necessity .....
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By Ian Buxton
Section : Whisky issues
Page number : 50
