The_Rev
Reviewed
April 2, 2019 (edited April 27, 2019)
I will preface this by saying that there is no universe in which this is such an amazing step up in quality from other JW entries of worth that it justifies the price tag. Now, that being said...
This is a damn fine dram to, say, share with your cousin on the night of his big sister's wedding (which I had just officiated). Late into the evening, the party over and the guests gone home, we sat and he pulled out a bottle of this given to him by an ex-girlfriend's dad. If this was the only thing he got out of that relationship, he did alright. It's classic Johnnie Walker; there are no surprises here. The opening rush of sweet, Speyside vanilla, fruit, and caramel opens up into coastal salty seabreeze and a light bit of smoke - woody rather than peaty. There's a nice little citrus note in with the salty air and smoke, enough spice to suggest good quality oak, and a loooooong finish. This is much more polished, integrated, and refined take on Johnnie Walker's signature style...it achieves a balance of complex elements that is nothing to sneeze at.
And...it's an excellent choice for making memories. The night the Cubs won it all in 2016, or bonding with your cousin who you haven't seen in years and is now all grown up - these kinds of experiences cry out for the polish and easy elegance of a masterful blend like this. Nothing that's going to detract from the celebration by demanding too much attention, but that will perfectly compliment the joys of life with a masterful sense of perfect balance. Will I ever buy a bottle? Probably not, or at least not at the current price point...if this were selling for, say, $100 or so, I might be tempted to bite.
Ultimately, your ability to enjoy this comes down to two things - whether or not you like the general Johnnie Walker flavor profile, and how you respond to the pricing. If you like Johnnie Walker's sweet-salty-lightly smoky profile, and you're willing to ignore the pricing (thanks, ex-girlfriend's dad!), it's hard not to enjoy this, especially when the time's right for it.