Classic Scotch for Your Home Bar

Aroma: Light oak smoke, apples, honey, vanilla, and a hint of citrus fruits.

Taste: Surprisingly full-bodied. Sweet, with lots of vanilla and honey - along with fruity notes (apples, strawberries, and lemon) paired with a touch of smoke. Slightly malty.

Finish: Drier and spicier than on the palate. Malty, baked apples, and figs linger.

The Black Label, aged for at least 12 years, impresses with its fruity aromas combined with fine smoky notes and a solid price. The aroma already hints at the pleasant taste: Sweet honey and vanilla aromas along with fresh fruitiness completely captivate us. The pleasant oak smoke provides a counterbalance. These notes are supported on the palate by a hint of malt, creating a full-bodied experience. A spicy finish follows, bringing along sweet fruits whose aftertaste lingers on the tongue for a long time. Despite (or perhaps because of) the affordable price, you can't go wrong with this blended Scotch. A very decent tasting experience awaits you. It is a pleasant companion for any occasion. This blend is also great for lively parties and won't immediately drive you into financial ruin as a host.

Drinking Variants

There are versatile ways to enjoy your Johnnie Walker Black Label. As with all whiskies, the simplest and most obvious way is to enjoy it neat in a nosing glass. The company itself believes that this whisky is best enjoyed 'on the rocks'. Even though we advise against ice cubes for high-quality single malts, there’s nothing wrong with a cool refreshment on hot summer days with this blend. If you prefer to use whisky for cocktails, the Black Label opens all doors for you. One option is the classic whisky and cola. With ice cubes and a slice of lime, you can easily whip up a delicious party drink. A balanced enjoyment is offered by the combination of Black Label with lemon, sugar syrup, egg white, and Angostura bitters. The pleasant acidity pairs excellently with the smoky flavor of the whisky.

History

The Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blended Scotch that unites good whisky from all over Scotland. This is typical for Johnnie Walker. The foundation was laid in 1819 when John Walker opened a grocery store selling single malts. Due to the quality fluctuations of the individual whiskies, Walker began to blend them to create a consistent standard. And he succeeded. After him, his son and then his grandsons continued the business on a large scale. In 1867, the first commercial blend from Johnnie Walker was introduced, which gained worldwide popularity thanks to shipping. Since then, the success story has never ended. The most famous representative of Johnnie Walker is probably the affordable Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Alternative

If you don't like the smokiness in this blend, you should alternatively try the Monkey Shoulder. The sweet temptation will wrap you around its finger with dark chocolate, dark fruits, and wonderfully soft vanilla.

In the Whisky Bible 2019, Jim Murray named the Johnnie Walker Black Label the best whisky in the category of Blended Scotch Whisky 5-12 years.

It doesn't hurt to try the affordable and absolutely solid Black Label to get a taste for it. At this price, you don't need to think twice - just grab it and try!