Tastes

One of the best Japanese blends I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I reckon more remarkable than even the highly-regarded Hibiki Harmony. A very complex dram that lingers. Wow. Simply amazing.

Smokey but flavor is very flat. There's nothing much outside of the smoke. Much rather go with other Islay single malts than this JW experiment, especially for the price.

No doubt my go-to whisky for a dram on any given evening. It's just a dangerously sipping blend. So good, so approachable. Johnnie Walker Black was my gateway to Scotch but Monkey Shoulder was the welcoming party. Can't recommend it enough.

I've always had the impression that most single malt whiskies are smooth and bold. The Glenmorangie 10, while flavorful, is quite aggressive. It's not as smooth as the competition eg. Glenfiddich 12, and not as flavorful. But while a bit too bold for me, I've managed to down a bottle of this whisky with friends over the course of an evening. It's not a bad single malt but if I want some warmth and friendliness throughout the night, there are better entry-level options. I'd probably store at home for a random dram on a cozy afternoon or evening. But definitely not one of my go-to's.

It's tough to take in neat. I agree with most whisky connoisseurs - this blend is for mixing. It tastes quite young, has considerable spice, finish is brief but the bitterness lingers. It's tough to get down. As a mix, it goes very well in a Highland Highball.

Very generic as a peated blend - a little smoky, hints of sweetness, caramel, slightly bitter but refreshing. Generic though doesn't necessarily have to be negative - the Johnnie Black is an old reliable and a go-to when I don't want to think of what dram to have for the evening. Pleasant even if it's not quite memorable.

Very sweet, a little spicy, finish is brief. Smooth, goes down quite easy. Not a lot of alcohol content in a dram. Nose is welcoming.