I'm pretty fond of the Johnnie Walker line, although the red label is by far the worst but it's still drinkable. It definitely is made for cocktails, although I would contend the black label is even better for that purpose as well. The nose hints at light smoke and cereal. The palate has some oak, vanilla and the slightest hint of smoke. The finish is a touch bitter and a bit hot for 80 proof, but not terribly so. Again, it's not really designed to be consumed neat, but while it may be a bit boring, it's still decent. For the price it's a solid value, just dont expect it to blow you away. In the end though, I think the black label is an even better value since it's far superior neat and elevates cocktails to a greater degree than this.