Nose: Very smoky. Behind the smoke you can find fruit, toffee and vanilla, but the smoke tends to mask rather than support the other aromas. It is a more phenolic and tarry smoke than that found in other Johnnie Walker blends - initially I could have sworn it had some Laphroaig in the recipe. Palate: Just as smoky as the nose, but also quite sweet with fruity and cereal flavours supporting the peaty centre. Some cider apple notes and a light almost sweet citrus touch. Finish: Medium/short. The smoky and fruity notes gradually fade, and there is less of the sour note in the aftertaste than I usually sense with Johnnie Walker blends. This is to Green Label what Double Black is to Black Label - a re-balance of a winning formulation to bring a fashionable smokiness front and centre on the stage. This blend is, however, more overt about that goal and it is the smokiest whisky produced under the Johnnie Walker brand. It has a lighter profile than Green Label, which is more rounded and heftier in comparison, and it also lacks the finesse and balance of Green Label. That blend has a briny note that adds greatly to its charm but it is missing here, which can lead to Island Green seeming a little too sweet. That said it is a fine, high quality whisky and I can’t help but wonder if it would be more generally accepted if it had been branded something like “Johnnie Walker Bronze Label” instead of “Island Green”. On the whole I think it’s pretty much the equal quality-wise of the Gold Label but with a totally different character, of course. This is a Travel Retail Exclusive bottling, so the price I've quoted is the price at Sydney airport Duty Free. It can be found in some local retail shops, in which case the price varies from $120-160. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)