Origin: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 42%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon Refill
Chillfiltered: Yes
Additional coloring: Yes
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 35.00
Official website: www.johnniewalker.com
Vote: 75/100
Last Summer Diageo launched a new limited edition of its Johnnie Walker Black Label, initially for the Travel Retail market only, divided into four different editions, each dedicated to a region of Scotland.
These include the Highlands (including Clynelish and Teaninich), Speyside (including Cardhu and Glendullan), the Lowlands (including Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie) and finally Islay (including Lagavulin and Caol Ila).
All four bottlings carry the customary 12 years ageing.
This is all part of the label’s bicentennial celebrations, which will surely attract the attention of many enthusiasts.
Obviously, the concept of “limited edition” when it comes to this brand is entirely relative…
Tasting notes
The nose, as expected, reveals a peaty, marine soul, with barbecue smoke and salt. The smoke is actually quite light, leaving plenty of room for fruity notes with lemon zest and a touch of spice.
The palate becomes more fleshy and driven, very ashy, with the marine soul acting as a counterbalance along with citrus and clove. The smoke tends to prevail, offering very little evolution.
The finish is moderately long, of used ashtray, salt and orange.
In representing Islay, the simplest and most straightforward route has obviously been chosen, with a whisky full of smoke and marinity that pushes on the two most characteristic aspects without conceding much else.
But then again, for such an inexpensive yet ‘limited’ edition, one could not expect much more.
Of course, at this point for the same price it would be better to take one of the malts at the base of the blend…