Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year

A blend of Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore and Caol Ila that’s at least 15 years old and $65... I would call bullshit but somehow JW makes it happen. Light golden color. Inviting, soft aroma. I feel like I should be under a pale blue sky on a crisp cool day, abundant sunshine sitting on a wooden dock and stroking the beard that I don’t have... pondering. Sweet sherry, honey, malt, roasted apples and just a bit of wood and brine. Deep down there’s something slightly medicinal that’s gone in a flash. It’s gentle, almost calming. Then the smoke! It’s like the above flavors show up and then a smokey fog rolls briskly across the tongue and settles over the orchard fruits atop a floor of wood, leather, peat, caramel and flowers. With subsequent sips the surprise of the smoke is gone and the brighter, honey-malt notes take center stage again with the counterparts plying supporting roles. There is almost a bit of lime, clove, juniper and ash as well. Compared to Talisker 10 there seems to be less sherry influence and more malt. Sort of like a Highland Park 12 but... just more? The body is definitely thicker, heavier than HP12. I feel like this bottle could sit dead center in my experience with Scottish malts. It has a soft, almost plush quality and showcases fruit, malt, peat, smoke, wood and maybe a wee bit of spice but only in the latter department is it lacking much. It’s not king of anything (ie. not single malt style) but does a bit of everything and does it very well. I have one complaint and that is I would like to see this at 100 proof or more... but that’s being greedy. This has no heat, no burn... just comfort. I’m between 4.25 and 4.5 on this one. It’s top notch, but is blending cheating? Is something lost in the ether? I don’t think so but I don’t know that I’ll reach for this over Talisker 10 or Ardbeg Corry if I’m looking for something bigger. Time will tell. For now I stroke my imaginary beard and contemplate.

So usually i'm the cheap guy that doesn't spend more than $40-$50 on any bottles of anything unless a special occasion but for some reason i really wanted this bottle of Johnnie because i read so many outstanding reviews and it is the furthest thing from the regular Johnnie lineup and said to be the best as well. From the start my mouth fell in love with this amazing pour. It has so many flavors going around as i swirl it in my mouth. I get touches of peat, earthy flavors that I've never tasted, and some sweet notes such as green apple. I'm glad i splurged and spent the $65 on this because it is an amazingly good pour that lived up to the hype in my opinion. 4/21/21

Easily the best Johnnie Walker (at least of the ones that can be found and purchased). Found it for a good price, so now what was once had in a bar when I was already plastered is now a proper addition. Even high aged scotches usually have a lighter color, but this has a lovely caramel color that a good bourbon can have, but the body still retains a lightness that comes with scotch. The scent really is an amalgam of all things typical scotch: butterscotch, grass, honey, salt, and some peat, but this is the lowest note I get. Since the proof is so low, I don't get any hotness from the glass, but this isn't needed for this particular whiskey. Immediately the flavors come forward of oak, mostly vanilla and caramel from presumably bourbon barrels, but some softer, buttery notes are also along here. Very fresh, yet potent butterscotch flavors come next, which is a welcome transition into the earthy, salty flavors that develop after this. The flavor of peat is obvious here, but the actual body and smokiness is absent. The finish is surprisingly hot, at least hotter than I was expecting for a mere 86 proof. Definitely still the best Johnnie Walker out there, and having found out only after purchasing the bottle that this is a blend that doesn't even include their own whiskey, I'm thinking that may be the reason behind the superiority. I could be wrong, and JW could have their own product in this blend, but now that I think of it, I actually don't know which of their products are truly theirs, and which are blends. Blending other distillery's whiskeys never makes any sense to me, but it's got a long history with scotch. In any case, this blend is perfect, and hits flavors found from all regions of Scotland almost perfectly. The peat is quite low, but if you wanted a scotch and didn't have a regional preference, this would be my recommendation every time.

Style - Neat in Norlan. Nose - Light smoke. Taste - Nothing too crazy, light vanilla. Flash of cherry hard candy at the end. Finish - It wants to bite, but never does. Right as the burn feels like it should appear it goes away. Score - 3.5 Scoring Legend 5.0 - Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky. 4.5 - Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible). 4.0 - Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here. 3.5 - Good, quite enjoyable to drink. 3.0 - Solid, wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 2.5 - Meh, still drinkable. Under 2.5 - If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.

Good for highball.

Nose - light smell. With light smoky scent Taste - 4.0 great taste, not overwhelming. Finish - 4.0 smooth finish Score - 4.0 overall Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched to others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always try to keep a bottle in stock 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink 3.5 - Good, would consider tasting again from time to time 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable. 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate