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Posts Tagged ‘Diageo’

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Review: Johnnie Walker Green Label Blended Malt

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 8, 2021

Johnnie Walker is one of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. With its unique square bottle, and the labels tilted off-center, the company has created a strong brand image and its spirit is considered by many to be the quintessential Scottish whisky.

Johnnie Walker Green Label was apparently discontinued for several years from about 2012 to 2016; however, the brand was quietly reintroduced in 2017. Based upon my recent recognition that both Johnny Walker Red and Johnny Walker Black seem to have undergone changes in their blending regimes it is likely that when Johnny Walker Green was reintroduced that changes may have occurred with this expression as well. Whereas the brand was previously promoted as containing specific Malt whiskies as part of its construct, the Johnny Walker website is now non committal regarding any specific malt whisky within its blend.

The Green Label is what is termed, a blended malt whisky, and as such it is produced without any grain whisky. Rather it is produced as a mixture of Single Malts from various whisky producing regions of Scotland, specifically Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Island malts. As well, all of the malt whiskies used within its construct have been aged for a minimum of 15 years in both European and American Oak casks.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Johnnie Walker Green Label Blended Malt

“… Sandalwood and fine wood spice, vanilla, orange zest and fruity citrus, leathery barley, fresh cut hay, heather and tobacco as well as a light somewhat smoky peat underneath. There are also some notes of banana and banana peel, some baking spices (ginger, cinnamon and allspice) and bits of almond …”

Please enjoy my review!

Chimo!

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Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 11, 2021

Johnnie Walker is one of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. With its unique square bottle, and the labels tilted off-center, the company has created a strong brand image and its spirit is considered by many to be the quintessential Scottish whisky. The company has been operating since 1820, and has grown steadily to become one of the most important Scottish whisky brands in the world today.

According to the Johnnie Walker website:

Johnnie Walker Double Black was created by Master Blender Jim Beveridge as a darker, smokier interpretation of the world famous Johnnie Walker Black Label. Johnnie Walker Double Black is matured in heavily charred casks and uses a greater proportion of characterful West Coast and Island whiskies to elevate iconic flavours to a new level of intensity.

Unlike Johnnie Walker Black Label which carries a 12 year age statement, Johnnie Walker Double Black is not an age stated brand.

Here is a Link to my full review of the recently introduced Double Black:

Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

“… Herbal peat combined with light oak spice. Butterscotch and light notes of menthol as well as tar and perhaps hints of iodine and salt. Perhaps there is a bit of swampiness welling up which reminds me of a grassy wetland. Fine black pepper, and citrus zest give an indication of some alcohol heat and fine oak spiciness …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my suggested serving, the Rusty Nail.

Chimo!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 28, 2020

Johnnie Walker is one of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. With its unique square bottle, and the labels tilted off-center, the company has created a strong brand image and its spirit is considered by many to be the quintessential Scottish whisky. The company has been operating since 1820, and has grown steadily to become one of the most important Scottish whisky brands in the world today.

According to my research, Johnnie Walker Red Label has undergone a small change recently. When I published my last review in 2017 it was advertised as containing up to 35 grain and malt whiskies. Today (December 2020) the Johnnie Walker Website has this to say about its iconic blend:

Johnnie Walker Red Label is a powerful mix of up to 30 malts and grains. It’s a combination of light whiskies from Scotland’s East Coast and more peaty whiskies from the West, expertly balanced to create an extraordinary depth of flavour.

With up to 5 grain and malt whiskies no longer in the blend, it could be that we may notice some small changes in the flavour profile, so I thought an updated review might be appropriate.

Here is a link to the new review:

Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky

“… The initial aroma which rises into the breezes above the glass moderately complex with grain and fine oak spices accompanied by a light sweetness of butterscotch and hints of almond. There is a touch of boggy peat in the air and herbal notes which remind me of heather and menthol …”

Interestingly, my scoring indicates that I like the Red label blend just a little bit more than before.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 13, 2020

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is currently produced in Gimli, Manitoba, at the Crown Royal Distillery. The distillery and the brand are owned by the spirits conglomerate, Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian Whisky brand.

The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of whiskies that have been released on an annual basis since 2016. The Collection showcases Crown Royal whiskies with new flavour profiles by blending different components of the various whiskies that go into the Crown Royal blend and/or using different finishing techniques in maturing the company’s flagship whisky.

The Crown Royal Rye Aged 16 Years is part of the Noble Collection and showcases Crown Royal’s rye whisky. This is a blend of Crown Royal Rye Whiskies all of which have been aged for no less than16 years.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

“… a firm oak and rye aroma with both the spicy accents oak sap and rye grain on full display. I sense impressions of maple topped  graham wafers and hints of chocolate riding alongside. Lovely notes of butterscotch and vanilla have merged with almond notes bringing about an impression of marzipan and underneath all of this are impressions of raisins and apricot.I should mention the baking spices which appear alongside the oak. …”

Please enjoy this review of this lovely sipping whisky.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2020

In 2018, to celebrate the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones; Johnnie Walker began to introduce a series of Game of Thrones themed whiskies. Included in this series was a range of eight single malts whiskies each representing a different house faction from the television series. These 2018 releases been followed by more releases in 2019 including Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire and Johnny Walker A Song of Ice which were inspired by the two of the remaining powerful houses of Westeros, House Stark (A song of Ice) and House Targaryen (A Song of Fire).

Johnnie Walker, A Song of Fire features the subtle smoke of peated malts from the Caol Ila distillery. The smoky flavours within the malt are an homage to the Dragons of House Targaryen. The whisky is labeled as a blend which means that although the Caol Ila Distillery is the featured single malt within the whisky, other whiskies both grain and single malt will also be included in the blend.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

“… The breezes bring me some moderate ashy smoke with bits of tar and meaty notes of bacon and roast beef (I’m not kidding, even my wife noticed the bacon). Leathery notes follow as some of the whisky smells start to break free of the peat, and these are followed by peppery baking spices and caramelized brown sugar …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my serving suggestion, the Black Goat.

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

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