I opened a fresh bottle this past Friday to drink without thinking too much. It’s been a long while since a really sat and “tasted” Johnnie Walker Black. I have several bottles that I have acquired recently. So, the following day, I thought (so much for not thinking when sipping) it would be interesting to compare my (simple) notes from five years ago a recent tasting. There is an initial earthy quality on the nose. Mineral. A mix of nuttiness: walnuts and brown sugared-pecans with a subtle vanilla cream and butterscotch sweetness. Dig deep, and there are detectable sherry notes: raisins, plumbs, nutmeg and cinnamon. Soft and balanced. A slight waxiness hovers about. The palate is medium weight with sweetness and a touch of charcoal smokiness. Brown sugar, vanilla, cigar ash. Orange zest comes through late in the delivery with golden raisins, toasted coconut and white pepper. The palates remains slightly woody dry with tangerine zest and black pepper which lasts for a medium length of time. Every once in a while it nice to come back to where you started. This was my goto scotch; my only scotch in my early, getting started, learning the world, life-struggling days (not that my struggles no longer exists, they do). It been some time since I sat and concentrated on this whisky. This still holds up and is a quality blend (no rocks needed). Over ages and generations, this will remain a fixture and a stalwart whisky. [Tasted again: 10/7/18][85/100]