Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year

Light smoke, cough sweets and mandarins

Had it a while back, I loved the complexity, there’s a lot going on, and the great mouthfeel.

Blended malts can be very enjoyable when done well. Master blenders deserve praise when they consistently produce a quality scotch. Green Label fits the bill. Sweet and sour on the nose, like green apple dipped in honey. And then seasoned with a tiny pinch of salt. On the palate, light smoke and peat come forward together with a touch of pepper. The finish is the least exciting part of this dram. Some sharpness and no more layers. Good scotch nevertheless.

Color: Deep Copper (1.0), long slow legs on the twirl - oily Nose: Floral and bright with hints of honeycake, banana bread, lychee, chestnuts, and salt. Palate: Tropical fruit with a side of peat, a pepper bite along with black tea and salty brine. An overall light mouthfeel with a touch of bitterness from the peat. Finish: Mellow peat, and an earthy flavor lingers. A hint of dry oaky spice as the finish slowly fades away. Overall: This was my first adventure into the world of Johnnie Walker. After a bit of research it seemed this was the best “bang for your buck” JW - and I see why, theres a lot to like here. The dry salty/sweet profile, while not overly complex, is kind to the palate. The delicious nose and dry oaky finish are perfect bookends to an enjoyable dram. My only complaint is that the flavors present aren’t as complex as in some non-blended whiskies. There’s a lot at the table here, but the flavors aren’t necessarily woven together - they’re just “there.” The whisky isn’t a journey, it merely has stops along the way. Still, I enjoy what’s in the glass, and for $50 you can do a lot worse. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a more expensive Johnnie Walker, but that’s fine because I’m perfectly content with this. (6/18/20)