LouisianaLonghorn
Johnnie Walker Red Label
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
October 10, 2019 (edited May 20, 2020)
I came into this with low expectations. There are few favourable reviews of this whisky, and I don’t think the folks at JW expected folks to drink this neat. Churchill and Thatcher were know to drown this one in soda water. Onwards...
The nose is bullshit. There are the faintest aromas of malt and honey buried under this weird, metallic note that smacks of barely legal grain whisky. The only other place I’ve encountered this is the budget Jameson, and it’s not nearly as offensive as this one.
The taste isn’t altogether unpleasant. Malty, soft, with a little roundness in the mid palate, but a weird spike at the end despite the 40% proof. The finish is non-existent.
This is not a good whisky. I might drink this if it were the only thing at a party and I could drown it with something, just like the legendary PM’s of old days. Otherwise, save your $$ for other things. For the same amount it costs for a bottle of this, you could buy a quality budget bourbon.
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Thatcher drank whisky? Somehow that image of the Iron Lady doesn’t surprise me. Although, I’d expect a Lag or Ardbeg might be more to her image
A fair review. Red Label isn’t targeted at the single malt niche market, or even the middle-shelf blend market. It’s budget scotch and it performs reasonably well in that role. My only criticism of it is that for the money there are several better budget blends, a couple of which leave RL lying dead in the dust - but then they are not available in literally EVERY bar on the planet.
@AntonioSchmid agreed. Nothing against budgets. I’m a sucker for the Dewer’s White Label and the Evan Williams BIB, both around $15 in Texas!
This one is just plain bad whisky. For me the palate is even worse than the nose. I can’t drink it even with soda... Nothing against budget whiskies... I love Teacher’s!
I actually don’t mind this with a healthy splash of Club Soda if there is nothing else appealing on the back bar. A lot of places it’s the J Gang only (Johnny, Jim, Jack, Jameson and Josè). This one will get you through.
Thanks for taking one for the team! Even with coke I wasn't a fan!
I brought a brick (12) of these nips to Ireland. On a cold, wet golf course you can’t convince me they are anything short of 5 stars. :) I think I said the same thing last year.