From January 1, 1934 until today, John Walker & Sons has been granted a Royal Warrant (originally by King George V) to supply whiskey to the royal household of England.
ARTS & FOOD® conducted an unbiased, unsponsored, comparison of all Johnny Walker Scotch Labels and a few Single Malt Scottish whiskey brands. This sampling of Scottish Whiskey, especially the complete line of Johnny Walker Labels, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all present. The fun comradery, the conversations, the sense of community, and the opportunity to taste and compare these libations was very much enjoyed. The participants, all living in the New York City area, were from diverse economic and age groups, with many various careers represented. This night we were brothers and sisters, all regular Scotch Whiskey drinkers, on a mission to render a verdict of thumbs up or thumbs down on the whole recently re-formulated line-up of John Walker’s labels. This tasting was not sponsored by John Walker & Sons or any liquor company or distributor – all expenses were paid for by ARTS & FOOD® magazine.
(Drum Roll Please!)
The results of ourNew York City Johnny Walker Scotch Tasting:
-RED Label is the least expensive bottle we tasted and was the low man on the totem pole based on the responses. This is interesting considering the Red Label is the Johnny Walker Scotch most consumed by our participants – ordered when out or brought home from the store! Its reasonable price seems to be the attraction. The first reaction by almost everyone was “Wow, That BURNS!” and one “Fire Water!” Another more sympathetic voice said, “You know, after a sip or two, it’s not that bad!” (On a personal note, I feel a splash of water, or even simply having it on the rocks, eliminates “the burn” and makes the Red Label delicious and smooth on the palette.) Available at $25 (750 ml bottle).
– BLACK Label was disappointing to most who tasted it. This is the “Premium Johnny Walker” at most bars and restaurants, where you pay extra for its premium brand. Many, if not most, establishments don’t even offer the Red Label. A few comments were “It burned my throat on the way down.” and “I cannot tell any difference between the Black Label and the RED!” Available at $35 (750 ml bottle).
– DOUBLE BLACK Label was the second most liked pour of the evening. The overall reaction was “Double Black has a bold, rich and very smoky flavor and it’s very smooth in the mouth! Excellent!” List: $66.79 – Available at $42 (750ml bottle)
– GOLD Label came in very close to Double Black but was given third place based on the math around the room. “It has a sweetness and a smoothness that is very appealing.” Several picked it as their #2 favorite, after Blue. Available at $90 (750ml bottle).
– GREEN Label Ranked 4th, but there is a caveat for Dbl. Black, Gold & Green, they were all liked as a # 2 pick by several participants. In many ways, these labels all tied for second place, but just the votes, the simple math, created their rankings of #2, #3 & #4. The comments on Green Label were: “Has a slight fresh cut grass nose, the taste has some sweetness like apple or pear, with vanilla… and it’s pleasantly smoky.”
– 18 Years Old Label The commenters agreed, “it seemed like an old school scotch, traditional, a mid-century blend, to drink while sitting in leather chairs wearing a smoking jacket – with some sweetness and it was smooth.” Interestingly it was not a winner in anybody’s opinion and was never mentioned again when discussing the comparisons between the J.W. Labels – the “old school scotch” comment may say something about the results. List $199.97 – Available at $110 (750ml bottle).
– BLUE Label was the unanimous winner by every participant and for overall enjoyment and smoothness. They felt it was “pleasant in the mouth and throat. The drink has excellent flavor!” The opposition to this much-loved bottle? No participant said they would buy or choose Johnny Walker Blue Label as their regular go to drink, it is simply too expensive to drink on a regular basis. They also noted there are other excellent choices of Johnny Walker labels they now know more about and can enjoy at almost the same level as the Blue. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Limited Edition Brooks Brothers 1818, Boxed edition lists for $496.97 and Blue is available from $249, and is sometimes discounted down from there (750ml bottle).
After the Johnny Walker tasting, we also tested a few Single Malt Scottish Whiskies just to see the reactions and comparisons. (One participant insisted these were never to be referred to as Scotch, but only as Single Malt Scottish Whiskey).
– MACALLAN – 12 years old – a well respected regional Single Malt Scottish Whiskey – Comments: “rich and golden in color, the taste of vanilla with a hint of ginger, dried fruits, sweet toffee, sherry and wood smoke – smooth with some spice.” Some felt it burned the throat and was not as smooth as the Johnny Walker Blue Label. Available at $46 (750 ml).
– GLENLIVET 12 years old – Comments: “vibrant gold in color with orange flavored highlights and fruity pear notes plus vanilla – it has a soft velvety feel in the mouth, pleasant and drinkable.” The verdict from our participant was the 12 years old GLENLIVET was a winner, even after having tasted so many different bottles. They said, “it is smooth and flavorful plus the price is reasonable.” There was a discussion, wondering if the 18-year-old GLENLIVET might be fabulous, based on how good this 12-year-old version. One unusual comment, intended as a compliment was, “it tasted like a really good blended Scotch.” Available at $45 (750 ml bottle).
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A big “Thank You” to all who participated and for making this evening a great and unforgettable experience. We all learned new and useful insights into Scotch Whiskey.
John Walker & Sons’ marketing department says Johnny Walker is the biggest whiskey brand in the world. I will leave that alone… do they mean in brand recognition or in sales? I can say, I have a bottle of Johnny Walker Double Black Label sitting in the liquor cabinet at home, that was my choice for cost/flavor after all were tasted. I will say the Macallan 12 year and the Glenlivet 12 year were both outstanding, and I order them now when I go to a restaurant.
CHEERS!
Jack Atkinson
Founder/Editor/Publisher ARTS & FOOD® Magazine
(Source: A panel of participants who all work in New York City. Photos from the Johnny Walker Whiskey Company)
PS: Tip from Johnny Walker.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DRINK SCOTCH WHISKEY?
There’s no right or wrong way to drink whiskey. As long as you enjoy it, that’s all that matters.
However, there are some techniques that can heighten the experience, making it even more pleasurable.
Try different glasses and different temperatures. Add a little water or a mixer. Try a cocktail. But remember, only you know the serve that’s right for you.
Consider these few things before getting to the whiskey itself.
1
FIRST, CHOOSE YOUR GLASS
A good, solid tumbler (a short glass with a heavy bottom) if you’re drinking your whiskey neat, or with a little water or ice. For ‘long’ whiskey mixed drinks, use a ‘highball’ – a tall, slim, straight-sided glass.
2
TAKE A MOMENT TO INHALE THE AROMA
A huge part of the flavor of food and drink comes from the way it smells – and whiskey is no exception. Enjoying the aroma of whiskey can be hugely rewarding.
3
TAKE A SIP
Savor the flavor by allowing the whiskey to roll over your tongue, before letting it slip smoothly down.
4
TAKE YOUR TIME
A good whiskey will present a whole range of flavors and scents – many of which you may find familiar. The flavors experienced are unique to each person, with certain elements being stronger to some than others. Discussing the flavors you discover with friends is one of the many joys of drinking whiskey.
(Source: John Walker & Sons Website johnniewalker.com)
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