Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year

Nose: Rich, fruity, sherry-laden and nuanced. An oily and fruity aroma and some good oaky notes. Palate: Honey, fruit, wafts of smoke, and an underpinning oiliness. Very balanced. You can genuinely taste the interplay of Talisker and Caol Ila that is the defining character of this whisky. Finish: Medium long, the developed character fades away with no surprises. A great and dependable blended malt that is a perfect example of what a blended malt should be - a stage to show off the best aspects of all the contributing malts, whilst simultaneously making a statement by melding those contributors into a whole that has its own character. What a great dram. This is a shining star of the JW range. Black Label is the benchmark affordable blend, but here they really get down to business. Buy with confidence - it is realistically priced at a similar point to the lower-tier Compass Box range, and is just a little more than Monkey Shoulder & Naked Grouse. In Australia the recommended retail price is $85, but it's regularly available for around $65. ADDENDUM - I continue to be impressed by the most recent expressions of Green Label. The recipe has changed in comparison to what it was a decade ago, but there is nothing at all wrong with the current style. If you are traveling and want to know a sure, safe and reliable bet for your duty-free allowance I couldn't think of anything to top it. "Very Good" : 85/100 (4 stars)