0:21: 🥃 Beginner's Guide to Johnnie Walker: Overview of iconic brand, history, blending, and popular entry-level bottles. 3:58: 🥃 Beginner's Guide to Johnnie Walker Whisky 7:22: 🥃 Beginner's guide to Johnnie Walker whiskey, including price points, popular bottles, and collector's items. 11:16: 🥃 Overview of Limited Edition and Exclusive Blends of Johnnie Walker whiskies. 15:07: 🥃 Introduction to Johnnie Walker and its exclusive whiskey series, including a new region-specific collection.
My late friend and me were both whisky drinkers. He made it a mission to find every one that Johnny Walker made. He eventually found a 35cl bottle of blue label which we managed to eek out over a year. When he died I was waiting in the hallway of his home to carry his coffin when his son-in-law came up to me with that half bottle with just the last dram in it and poured it into a snifter glass, he said that my friend had saved the last drink for me with instructions that I should enjoy it on the day of his funeral to remember the good times we had.
Took a blue label from my grandpas liquor cabinet when I was 18. Figured he wouldn’t notice because it was in the back and he never opened it. I still regret it.
Black Label was my first ever alcoholic drink. Surrounded by beer chuggers the party host poured some over too much ice & handed it to me as a joke. I mentally prepared myself to not make a face & took a sip. Everyone held their breath to watch my reaction. The burn hit & flowed through but there was a surprising amount of smoky favor that I really enjoyed. A cheer rose up as I swallowed with a smile giving me 1 of the few highlights of my life. I also found out nobody notices if you sip on a stiff drink while everyone else is running back & forth to relieve their beer filled bladders.
Back in the sixties, my father always had a bottle of Jonnie Walker Red in his shelf, when I was a Kid. I clearly remember the day he let me have a drink with him , and I loved it at the first sip !!! Now I am 60 years old and still love Jonnie Walker, switching between RED and Black. I had the pleasure of having the Blue bottle and its divine ! Keep Walking ! Cheers, from Brazil !
He came from Kilmarnock in Scotland. A small Lowland town 20 miles outsdie of Glasgow. With useless water for single malt and no name for whiskey. Likely why he blended. The bond is still here and is now a local council office. I pass it very often it sits on a side street. People here never took to buying it as so much was smuggled out the plant back in the day and we saw it operate - so no mystique. My Father recalls friends who worked there bringing it home and the staff being drunk all the time as a nip was givenn every shift which ended up being more - they would smuggle out the old casks and squeeze them - today that is a thing. Crazy. All gone now and that was a huge mistake as now it is nothing but a brand. No history. Typical of the corporate world.
This man is a clown, he has no idea of Johnnie Walker whisky, Johnnie Walker is owned by Diageo (Look it up) they have a large portfolio of distillers, The master distiller is Dr Emma Walker, she brought the Jane Walker series to life to celebrate women who are leaders in malt whisky, again research required, this man needs to sit in class and learn, he is certainly not a teacher
Ok... this is a video to go over JW core range! What does Diago have to do with the individual whiskies in the JW core range.... furthermore they don't distill anything @ JW as they are a blender... so there is no "Master Distiller". BUT, all that being said, we do appreciate your comments and willingness to get involved in the conversation as that's how everyone learns.... Cheers, ~Mark
At a Johnnie Walker Striding Man Society event many years ago, the rep from John Walker and Sons informed us the Black Label actually debuted first, and the Red Label was created later with the express purpose of being used with mixers. Makes sense when you think about it.
Good run down. I’m a single malt guy mostly and was initially repulsed at blends. But as I gained experience, I appreciate the skill and creativity that goes into blends. If I could have any job in the industry , it would be as ablender. It’s like those cooking shows where the judges watch the contestants rummage thru ingredients and as they prepare- the judges can tell you more or less what the dish will taste like before it’s cooked & served. Highly trained noses & pallets. Thanks for posting this.
Agreed. As an enthusiast it is easy to look down on blends because they dont really do what an enthusiast wants (single malt, high abv, non chill filtered, strong regional and distillery characteristics etc), but that isnt really who blends are for. Blends are being designed and marketed for the general public who want to mix them and maybe have the odd whicky on the rocks, so it needs to be accessible flavour wise. Making a good, accessible blend from a heap of other whiskies and keeping it consistent year through year has got to be a monumental task in it's own right.
Johnnie Walker started in Kilmarnock Scotland 1820 where I live. They closed and moved their factory a few years ago at the cost of hundreds of jobs in the town. I switched to rum!
I live in Wisconsin in the united states and I don't drink most normal beer because they all came in and snuffed out the amazing local breweries around here. We now have one small one where we used to have 6 and one of the greatest range factories in the land. Fuck what a rough world
@@stevensanchez7740 Same here, I work in a liquor store too. I get asked a lot about Scotch and Bourbons since I've really started to explore the category.
As a person who was in the bar industry for long time and according to my knowledge the age on the bottle is usually the youngest whiskey in the batch and the reason the old green was discontinued was because the old green bottle had a discoloration problem and the bottle would turn blue after long periods of time.and the story also goes each bottle color was according to the military rankings red being the lowest rank and the highest generals etc
I know the blue label is always what my brother-in-law's dad looks for whenever he goes cruising cause its always like half price in the foreign ports and no import duties
So glad I found this. I have been wanting to do a collection of Johnny Walker for a long time. This is a great history of it. Growing up in the 70s my dad use to collect a lot of well known liquor bottles, from Jack Daniel, Wild Turkey, Amaretto, and many more without drinking a drop. Johnny Walker was the one bottle that stood out for me, there’s something about it. It was the Green label one is all I can remember. Today, I want to get a collection of all the Walkers just like this and learn it’s history.
I’ve been drinking blue label for a long time I love pairing it with a good quality cigar so I drink maybe a glass of blue once a month and love it it’s mild and perfect when pairing with a bold cigar
The GREEN is one of my absolute favorites (in the entire mainstream scotch universe). Maybe 7 or 8 years ago, I really liked the Platinum 18, but it's not quite the same now. I haven't found the Blue to be good value for the flavor that I experience on my palate. Additionally, I'll very happily drink BLACK in a bar or restaurant; however, GREEN is my dram! Thanks for the nice review!
Thank you for this post my fellow Green admirer. Sometime back they used to have a Gold Label 18 ears old, but now they have replaced it with a gold Label Reserve (no age statement). That used to be my 2nd favourite Johnnie Walker, after Green. Nowadays 2nd spot goes to Double Black.
I've tried them all as Walker has been my go-to for years. But out of the entire lineup, Green is still my favorite. I feel like the flavor is really underappreciated.
About 40 yrs ago, it was Red with a splash of water, and Black straight, both on the rocks. Savored, never rushed. Geeez I can smell it right now! Cheers!
Few years ago I bought a gold label 18, the discontinued one, when on vacation in Venezuela, before their crisis, bought it brand new on a store, for around 50$ keep in mind it was already discontinued at the time. Kept it for around 2 years, then I shared it with the whole family, it wad great!
Why did we all get this recommended over a year after it was posted lol. I didn't notice the date until he said A Song of Ice and A Song of Fire were recent releases.
When my old man retired from the company he worked for for 40 years a bottle of Johnny Walker blue label was part of his retirement package alongside the gold watch etc and I’d just turned 18 at the time and was 1 of the first whisky I tasted
This video made me realize what a Johnnie walker fan boy I actually am. Without actually buying any of these rare or discontinued bottlings, I do specifically remember seeing them all individually on the shelves over the years and being really intrigued by them. I drink Johnnie black typically. Definitely kicking myself for not buying the Jane bottle and the platinum when they were available locally.
Great vid! I got my dad a Johnnie Walker Blue Label “Year of the tiger”. He told me he’s not opening it until a very very special occasion. This company is great at making the bottles feel special and exclusive.
Tell him not to wait too long. Myself and my sister bought my Dad many special bottles of whiskey over the year that he thought were too good to open and always saved for another day. He died in April this year never having got to enjoy any of them.
Well we hope your quarantine is going ok! This whole quarantine business really sucks, but we're glad to hear you have a good bottle to pass the time! ~Mark
I got lucky about 12 years ago and was given a bottle of Blue Label by a friend. Blue Label was hard to find in the Louisville area at that time and my friend was looking to replenish her stock. I knew of a liquor store in downtown Indianapolis that always had several bottles in stock. Told my friend that I would be in downtown Indy for a convention in a few weeks; she called them right then and there and purchased their full inventory of six bottles. I pick them up and deliver them to my friend and she hands me a bottle as payment for being her "whiskey mule". Fast forward two years and my wife, real estate agent, and lawyer friend were in parking lot after closing on our first home (which was a nightmare that almost saw us and the seller suing our out of state mortgage company and their affiliated title company); the lawyer, agent, and I all had a dram from the bottle of Blue Label in celebration. That dram and a case of beer was the only payment the lawyer would take for the months of work he did for us!
@@Culture45 I know but popping up a bottle of some good good, after doing some legal ishh with his lawyer and getting the bag? Thats some white boy ishh no cap lol
Double black is not only smoky due to cask char but because the blend includes more Caol Isla and Talisker. Green remains my favorite but Blue is solid. It is so well put together like a delicate jewel.
I have a gold label that I've saved for the past 12 years for ourGolden Anniversary, which is just a few days away on the 12 of Feb. Looking forward to enjoy it.
Bought blue for one of the groomsmen at my wedding. We tried it together and it was one of the smoothest scotches I've ever tried. Will absolutely buy another some day :)
youtube algorithm worked like magic once again, i still remember being broke in college and cutting food money to buy johnnie walker black with my two buddies which we finished in three sittings. good times!
Black label is a staple where i come from. It’s the most common non-local alcohol you can find apart from beer or wine. Even down to Secondary School (high school) Students can get their hands on a bottle or two for a party.
Enjoyed your presentation, thank you. Just a couple of things... both Johnnie Walker Red and black have about 40 different malt and grain whiskeys in them. Also most of the smoke you mentioned does not come for the charred barrels but form the island malts, primarily Tallisker and Lagavoulin. All Johnnie Walker scotches are equal, except some are more equal than others. Stay safe. Thanks again. Jim
They do a damn good job don't they.... I get sucked down a rabbit hole daily by UA-cam and when I realize I've blown an hour I always curse it...hahah. Cheers, ~Mark
Never been a fan of the blue label, but I respect the brand. I recently bought it at a bar and the barman commented on 'the expensive stuff'. He was a younger guy and had never tasted it so I bought him one too (it wasn't too expensive at this local place, not like other bars around here).
I believe them when they say the red label is the most selling in the world... it is a mass market product, cheapest of their range I believe, while at the same time has the name recognition... think of it as the McD's of whiskeys
@@trparky ّNot really comparing it to McDonald's...its like saying Johnnie Walker red to Whiskeys is what McDonald's is to food... the analog here is that it is the affordable, mass market, mainstream product
@@trparky McDonalds is pretty low on the burger quality list (cheeseburger = Red). I prefer Burger King which rates slightly higher (whopper = Black), then In-n-Out (Double Black), then Five Guys (Green) is a good notch above it, then Shake Shack (Gold) - they slightly fry the burger and sometimes cook the fries the right amount of gold - smokeshack is bomb (lines are always long for a reason!), and then you start getting into Diners (18/Plat) with guac and special ingredients, and then Gourmet (Blue) territory where the patties are hand made from ground beef and go for like $25+. lol, I know this comparison is dumb.
As a 36 year old alcoholic, let me explain my experience with each of these. I got into hard liquor via single malts years ago and worked my way back into bourbons and blends. JW Red - Total shit, cannot sip and should be used for jungle juice at best JW Black - Decent sipping down in Atlantic City, kill a whole bottle without ice - easily JW 2x Black - Definitely better than single Black but not by much JW Green - Fantastic profile, very enjoyable JW Gold - Fantastic profile, different than Green but perhaps better? JW Blue - Overrated overpriced, I could name 5 single malts with more complex flavor profiles under $70 USD. Yet it is very good but it's price point feels like theft. The rest of the line up, with the Game of Thrones nonsense should be thrown in the trash. I have nothing to say except I bought a single bottle and felt my tongue was molested without my consent Love the video by the way, Cheers!
At 38 i been all the way down the rabbit hole when i quit smoking weed and fell right into drinking... but you're right, Johnny black is the clear winner for price and taste and as for the RED..... it used to be ok for a cheap night of mixers and then suddenly.... maybe 4 or 5 years ago, you could tell there was a recipe change and it got real ethanol taste like some home brew junk.... or maybe i just evolved as i used to have the mind set, cheaper = more, but quickly realised better quality = more enjoyment and less hangover! 😁
The 15 year old Green Label is definitely a great whisky, my favourite Johnnie Walker. I usually only drink Single Malts, but the Green label is a great way to introduce a newbie to the world of Scotch.
@@masterxiong7368 indeed it is. For the money, green is the best of the whole line. Sure, the higher levels are better, but theyre not so much better compared to how much more expensive they are. Green is around $70- $80 and Blue is $200, but blue isn't necessarily $120 better than green imo. If I'm going to drop $200 on any bottle I'm not going to spend it on JW Blue.
In my world there are 2 kinds of Johnnie Walker 1. Black Label 2. The ones I don't care about Black is just an excellent balance of quality and price, its always my go-to
I've got a bottle of the JW Black Islay Regional Blend that was mentioned at the end. It's got a lot of the sweet notes of the standard Black Label but tamped down by a layer of ashy flavours (a lot of Caol Ila methinks). It's not a complex Scotch, sadly lacking the peaty flavours I like but it's certainly a pleasant sipping whisky if you have a taste for Islay.
Sitting on the shelf of Total Wines & More, there's a bottle of Johnny Walker blue with my name on it. Soon as I pass this exam on the 29th, we'll come together and celebrate
Save yourself some cash and get a gold or platinum. Much better value and Blue doesn’t justify the over double in price. But as its a celebration it’s also about creating a memory so I get that you want a blue.
I always think about it, but i'm not at the point to sit down and really appreciate it for the price. I can picture the day / night... a few old friends, a cold night, a crackling fire, maybe a fancy cigar (i don't smoke but just for the memory i would spark one up) some classic rock (nothing to heavy) just a few old dogs telling stories of time gone by and living in that exact moment and appreciating some fine Scotch! 😁
seriously dude, the johnny walker blue edition is just the most generic easy to drink whisky ive ever had. very smooth going down but also very very little flavour
@@CreepyHisoka and thus you totally missed the whole point behind buying a expensive bottle..... You don't spend hundreds or thousands just for taste. It's a rare occasion, a celebration, otherwise i would never go beyond Johnny Black!
Green Label here. Always have three bottles in reserve, just in case. Has a big influence in my scotch journey. Had to buy bottles of Caol Ila, talisker, Craggonmore, and Linkwood which are the only malts in Green label. Gold would be my second choice. Gold has Cardu in it which is also used in Jane Walker. Cardhu was one of the first distilleries operated by two generations of women. Has a nice orange, chocolate, cereal taste.
@@Scotch4Dummies Oh buddy, damn you guys for brining that to my attention. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. Glad I found your channel though. Happy sipping.
Bought a bottle of the Johnie Walker White Walker about a week ago. Mind you, this is my first bottle of Johnie as I usually drink Jim or Jack. As I’m about to crack it open and have a sip I get suggested this video. Biggest coincidence of my life
Awesome video. I’ve done the Scot’s tour in Edinburgh once and have Red,Black,Double Black, Green, Gold and Blue bottles of Johnny Walker unopened waiting for retirement
The smoked taste of the red JW comes from Talisker (also JB entry level will have it). The 3oz. of water (or 3 ice cubes) play an essential role in both the taste and smell in the Red JW, try it neat, and then with water and you'll see a vast difference...you'll actually be able to drink it haha.
On another note when you brought up talisker I thought of the talisker 10 and that is literally one of my favorite bottles of single malt scotch I have ever had (the bottle I had was before they changed the label) and they are extremely hard to find in my area.... But I don't taste any talisker at all in the red whatsoever...
I was gifted a bottle of Blue Label from a sales manager as a goodbye present (which I have never opened). I had no idea it was that valuable, adds an additional layer of respect I had for the man.
Blue label uses a real cork so if you hold on to that bottle more than 5 years that cork is probably shrunk down never turn it over to its side or you will lose alcohol from leakage make sure it always sits upright.... In my opinion you should start drinking it and when you're done tape the cork to the bottle so it doesn't seep alcohol out from the top for the angels to drink 🥃 ‼️ cheers
Thanks for sharing this. Having tried most of the 'normal' Johnnie Walker's I find it very difficult to see past Black Label. Chivas Regal is another favourite of mine. I can certainly confirm the here in Scotland that Red Label is very popular although Famous Grouse puts more into their marketing than Walker does.
I agree and I used to drink the same brand of Scotch back when I was in college. As I developed a more refined palate later on in life, I came to enjoy the expensive single malt scotch brands from various regions of the world. It's fair to say that most folks will settle in on their one favorite brand and stick with it. I don't drink anymore so those days are over with now.
The blue is my absolute favourite, my late dad was a red fan and in the 1970 s it was discontinued in England so dad went on the black , I remember the day many years later when red was reintroduced and the joy in he’s face !
Great video. Basically covered all the Johnnie Walker line of whiskey. Except for one, which was one of my favorite ones to drink as well as a really cool bottle, which is " JOHNNIE WALKER SWING".
Welcome aboard Brandy, love to have ya' on the journey. There's plenty of room for everyone, you just have to get involved in the conversation. It's a fun ride and always more enjoyable with more people! Cheers, ~Mark
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed it. Surprised myself I've tried almost the entire range. My personal favourite were the (old) Green labels. My only regret was not collecting them. The Island Greens are just not the same.
Gold Label Centenary blend was always my favorite one. Leaving it in the freezer for the creamy texture makes it go down smoother. Tried doing that with reserve, not the same.
Great video, with respect I’ve drank whiskey that was hundreds of pounds a measure, doesn’t mean that I enjoyed it and thought it tasted better than a single malt that was 30 pounds a bottle. I love JW black, blended but superb. If it’s good enough for the Blade Runner it’s good enough for me, I drink it from the BR glass too, one measure is about 1mm deep, it’s a big glass!
I’ve had all in the lineup to blue label and I must say that the green outshines the blue by a mile. I am at a loss as to why the blue is so expensive. I haven’t had the opportunity to taste any of the offerings in the lineup after the blue, but for my money the green and the double black are my choice when it comes to Johnny Walker.
My best friend in high school his grandparents owned a bar in the fifty's early sixty's. We found and drank cases of blue without knowing how expensive it was. 20 years old when we found it in 1980.
Blue is my go to choice for a scotch. I’ve been extremely lucky to have pretty regular access to it(including while golfing the other day which was wild). I don’t know if I would touch Red label anymore, and Black only if I HAD to, but overall, they’re all so enjoyable
This is a great start to understanding these blends, and I recommend that later you go into which single malts get used for the various blends because it really kicks a few skeptics offguard to find some of the best single malts they love making these blends. Awesome
Just discovered this video, really good information however you forgot to mention the Johnnie Walker Island Green that you substituted for the regular green. The Island Green is a duty free exclusive that comes in a 1 Liter bottle, it is a slightly higher abv at 43 just like the green but is a no age statement unlike the 15 yr green, it is less refined perhaps than the green however it has easily the most smoke/peat of any Johnnie Walker, I don't really pick up any peat myself in the regular green or black or even double black but the Island Green is a proper Islay style scotch with a nice amount of peat probably Caol Ila. Along with the regular green it is my favorite Johnnie Walker even over the blue or platinum.
Thank you for this extensive overview. I notice you didn't mention the Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club. Had my first taste of the Spice Road blend at Schiphol airport in 2012, there was a tasting at their duty free shop.
Glad you enjoyed it! We intentionally didn't mention every JW or we'd still be recording These "Beginner's Guide" Series are to go over the core range and maybe a few notables, but just can't do the entire JW range!!
Thank you for this very informative video sorting out the different kinds (or maybe hues is more appropriate?) of the Johnnie Walker line up. May I suggest a beginners guide to the Balvenie...or perhaps Laphroaig (which I spotted in the background)?
0:21: 🥃 Beginner's Guide to Johnnie Walker: Overview of iconic brand, history, blending, and popular entry-level bottles.
3:58: 🥃 Beginner's Guide to Johnnie Walker Whisky
7:22: 🥃 Beginner's guide to Johnnie Walker whiskey, including price points, popular bottles, and collector's items.
11:16: 🥃 Overview of Limited Edition and Exclusive Blends of Johnnie Walker whiskies.
15:07: 🥃 Introduction to Johnnie Walker and its exclusive whiskey series, including a new region-specific collection.
My late friend and me were both whisky drinkers. He made it a mission to find every one that Johnny Walker made. He eventually found a 35cl bottle of blue label which we managed to eek out over a year. When he died I was waiting in the hallway of his home to carry his coffin when his son-in-law came up to me with that half bottle with just the last dram in it and poured it into a snifter glass, he said that my friend had saved the last drink for me with instructions that I should enjoy it on the day of his funeral to remember the good times we had.
And that is THE BEST dram of whisky you shall ever have! Not b/c of what it was, but what it meant! Cheers to your late friend, ~Mark
chills man
Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story.
God bless. I know your friend is smiling from above with another bottle he found in heaven just waiting to say "you think that last one was good?"
That's friendship at its finest
Took a blue label from my grandpas liquor cabinet when I was 18. Figured he wouldn’t notice because it was in the back and he never opened it. I still regret it.
On the bright side hes probably dead by now right? No harm no foul
@@Ottophil wtf ass the guy cud be 40 nw
I can imagine he was not Happy about that 😅
Shame!
Why haven’t you replaced it?
Johnnie Walker Blue is fabulous. I hide it when people come over. Just for me.
You right man . Its expensiv to share 👌🏽👌🏽
I disagree. I think it’s tremendously overrated.
@@justcallmeprim Says the one who can't afford it. LMAO
@@MannyN420 Is hard being that ignorant? Or does it come easy to you from the corner of your mothers basement?
@@justcallmeprim I'm sorry. Did I break your heart? LOL
Black Label was my first ever alcoholic drink. Surrounded by beer chuggers the party host poured some over too much ice & handed it to me as a joke. I mentally prepared myself to not make a face & took a sip. Everyone held their breath to watch my reaction. The burn hit & flowed through but there was a surprising amount of smoky favor that I really enjoyed. A cheer rose up as I swallowed with a smile giving me 1 of the few highlights of my life. I also found out nobody notices if you sip on a stiff drink while everyone else is running back & forth to relieve their beer filled bladders.
Ever in Edinburgh Scotland go to the Johnny Walker experience it’s absolutely fantastic
Back in the sixties, my father always had a bottle of Jonnie Walker Red in his shelf, when I was a Kid. I clearly remember the day he let me have a drink with him , and I loved it at the first sip !!! Now I am 60 years old and still love Jonnie Walker, switching between RED and Black. I had the pleasure of having the Blue bottle and its divine ! Keep Walking ! Cheers, from Brazil !
He has covered more detailed information than I suppose even Johnnie walker company have ever put it down.👍🏻
He came from Kilmarnock in Scotland. A small Lowland town 20 miles outsdie of Glasgow. With useless water for single malt and no name for whiskey. Likely why he blended. The bond is still here and is now a local council office. I pass it very often it sits on a side street. People here never took to buying it as so much was smuggled out the plant back in the day and we saw it operate - so no mystique. My Father recalls friends who worked there bringing it home and the staff being drunk all the time as a nip was givenn every shift which ended up being more - they would smuggle out the old casks and squeeze them - today that is a thing. Crazy. All gone now and that was a huge mistake as now it is nothing but a brand. No history. Typical of the corporate world.
So true.....hardly ever, if ever at all, will you find JW saying they are not a distiller.....Great talk with no pretentions..
This man is a clown, he has no idea of Johnnie Walker whisky,
Johnnie Walker is owned by Diageo (Look it up) they have a large portfolio of distillers, The master distiller is Dr Emma Walker, she brought the Jane Walker series to life to celebrate women who are leaders in malt whisky, again research required, this man needs to sit in class and learn, he is certainly not a teacher
Ok... this is a video to go over JW core range! What does Diago have to do with the individual whiskies in the JW core range.... furthermore they don't distill anything @ JW as they are a blender... so there is no "Master Distiller". BUT, all that being said, we do appreciate your comments and willingness to get involved in the conversation as that's how everyone learns.... Cheers, ~Mark
Johnny Walker Blue is always available at Costco for $160.
True meaning it’s mid whiskey just over priced always somewhere else for hype
At a Johnnie Walker Striding Man Society event many years ago, the rep from John Walker and Sons informed us the Black Label actually debuted first, and the Red Label was created later with the express purpose of being used with mixers. Makes sense when you think about it.
Red works with Coke when there's no rum available 😉
Good run down. I’m a single malt guy mostly and was initially repulsed at blends. But as I gained experience, I appreciate the skill and creativity that goes into blends. If I could have any job in the industry , it would be as ablender. It’s like those cooking shows where the judges watch the contestants rummage thru ingredients and as they prepare- the judges can tell you more or less what the dish will taste like before it’s cooked & served. Highly trained noses & pallets. Thanks for posting this.
Agreed. As an enthusiast it is easy to look down on blends because they dont really do what an enthusiast wants (single malt, high abv, non chill filtered, strong regional and distillery characteristics etc), but that isnt really who blends are for. Blends are being designed and marketed for the general public who want to mix them and maybe have the odd whicky on the rocks, so it needs to be accessible flavour wise. Making a good, accessible blend from a heap of other whiskies and keeping it consistent year through year has got to be a monumental task in it's own right.
Johnnie Walker started in Kilmarnock Scotland 1820 where I live.
They closed and moved their factory a few years ago at the cost of hundreds of jobs in the town.
I switched to rum!
I live in Wisconsin in the united states and I don't drink most normal beer because they all came in and snuffed out the amazing local breweries around here. We now have one small one where we used to have 6 and one of the greatest range factories in the land. Fuck what a rough world
My dad worked at the Hill Street plant until he retired 🏴
As a functional alcoholic I really appreciate this video.
i work at a liquor store, and i get asked alot of questions🤣
@@stevensanchez7740 Same here, I work in a liquor store too. I get asked a lot about Scotch and Bourbons since I've really started to explore the category.
Me too dude.
I hope you find the help you need
As a person who was in the bar industry for long time and according to my knowledge the age on the bottle is usually the youngest whiskey in the batch and the reason the old green was discontinued was because the old green bottle had a discoloration problem and the bottle would turn blue after long periods of time.and the story also goes each bottle color was according to the military rankings red being the lowest rank and the highest generals etc
I know the blue label is always what my brother-in-law's dad looks for whenever he goes cruising cause its always like half price in the foreign ports and no import duties
So glad I found this. I have been wanting to do a collection of Johnny Walker for a long time. This is a great history of it. Growing up in the 70s my dad use to collect a lot of well known liquor bottles, from Jack Daniel, Wild Turkey, Amaretto, and many more without drinking a drop. Johnny Walker was the one bottle that stood out for me, there’s something about it. It was the Green label one is all I can remember. Today, I want to get a collection of all the Walkers just like this and learn it’s history.
As an ex-bartender currently building his mini bar at his apartment, this was very insightful.
I prefer green over blue..just my humble opinion🙏🏿
I have the blue year of the dog edition, such a cool bottle I use it as my house whiskey.
I’ve been drinking blue label for a long time I love pairing it with a good quality cigar so I drink maybe a glass of blue once a month and love it it’s mild and perfect when pairing with a bold cigar
My body just got warmer by just watching this video.
You should probably get that checked out.
My brother-in-law gave me a Blue. We just opened it up this past weekend... it was so good and smooth. First for me.
The GREEN is one of my absolute favorites (in the entire mainstream scotch universe). Maybe 7 or 8 years ago, I really liked the Platinum 18, but it's not quite the same now. I haven't found the Blue to be good value for the flavor that I experience on my palate. Additionally, I'll very happily drink BLACK in a bar or restaurant; however, GREEN is my dram! Thanks for the nice review!
Green Label is my absolute favorite
Green is my favorite too, though I live in Colombia and it is very hard to find here.
Totally agree, so glad they brought it back. Such a stand out from the other offerings (in my opinion).
Same here.
Thank you for this post my fellow Green admirer. Sometime back they used to have a Gold Label 18 ears old, but now they have replaced it with a gold Label Reserve (no age statement). That used to be my 2nd favourite Johnnie Walker, after Green. Nowadays 2nd spot goes to Double Black.
I've tried them all as Walker has been my go-to for years. But out of the entire lineup, Green is still my favorite. I feel like the flavor is really underappreciated.
About 40 yrs ago, it was Red with a splash of water, and Black straight, both on the rocks. Savored, never rushed.
Geeez I can smell it right now!
Cheers!
Few years ago I bought a gold label 18, the discontinued one, when on vacation in Venezuela, before their crisis, bought it brand new on a store, for around 50$ keep in mind it was already discontinued at the time. Kept it for around 2 years, then I shared it with the whole family, it wad great!
LOVE that bottle! Great story too!! ~Mark
Why did we all get this recommended over a year after it was posted lol. I didn't notice the date until he said A Song of Ice and A Song of Fire were recent releases.
That is our question too! We put out content twice a week. Join us on our Thursday night LIVE show. 10 pm Eastern time
@@Scotch4Dummies I enjoyed this video, first I've seen of your channel but I'll be looking for more!
@@Scotch4Dummies good content.I’m now a subscriber now 👌😃
We all get this over a year, so UA-cam doesnt have to pay full price (if any) for the views to the creator of this video.
@@rmelotto Don’t make shit up😂
When my old man retired from the company he worked for for 40 years a bottle of Johnny Walker blue label was part of his retirement package alongside the gold watch etc and I’d just turned 18 at the time and was 1 of the first whisky I tasted
That's a great company , they know exactly how to treat a retiring employee
This video made me realize what a Johnnie walker fan boy I actually am. Without actually buying any of these rare or discontinued bottlings, I do specifically remember seeing them all individually on the shelves over the years and being really intrigued by them. I drink Johnnie black typically. Definitely kicking myself for not buying the Jane bottle and the platinum when they were available locally.
Great vid! I got my dad a Johnnie Walker Blue Label “Year of the tiger”. He told me he’s not opening it until a very very special occasion. This company is great at making the bottles feel special and exclusive.
And that is how to truly enjoy whisky! Well done!
Tell him not to wait too long. Myself and my sister bought my Dad many special bottles of whiskey over the year that he thought were too good to open and always saved for another day. He died in April this year never having got to enjoy any of them.
@@hitchjack Sorry to hear that and thank you for sharing. Definitely opened my eyes. Please accept my condolences 💐
I’m having my second blue while in home quarantine in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and this video showed up👍🏼
Well we hope your quarantine is going ok! This whole quarantine business really sucks, but we're glad to hear you have a good bottle to pass the time! ~Mark
I got lucky about 12 years ago and was given a bottle of Blue Label by a friend. Blue Label was hard to find in the Louisville area at that time and my friend was looking to replenish her stock. I knew of a liquor store in downtown Indianapolis that always had several bottles in stock. Told my friend that I would be in downtown Indy for a convention in a few weeks; she called them right then and there and purchased their full inventory of six bottles. I pick them up and deliver them to my friend and she hands me a bottle as payment for being her "whiskey mule". Fast forward two years and my wife, real estate agent, and lawyer friend were in parking lot after closing on our first home (which was a nightmare that almost saw us and the seller suing our out of state mortgage company and their affiliated title company); the lawyer, agent, and I all had a dram from the bottle of Blue Label in celebration. That dram and a case of beer was the only payment the lawyer would take for the months of work he did for us!
I scroll down to the comments section only for a story like this one.
Shhh that was the whitest story Ive ever read no cap
@@ericktellez7632 let the guero tell his story it's interesting and shit
@@Culture45
I know but popping up a bottle of some good good, after doing some legal ishh with his lawyer and getting the bag? Thats some white boy ishh no cap lol
@@ericktellez7632 is it 'white boy shit' because he was winning a legal battle instead of going to jail for violent crime?
Double black is not only smoky due to cask char but because the blend includes more Caol Isla and Talisker.
Green remains my favorite but Blue is solid. It is so well put together like a delicate jewel.
I have a gold label that I've saved for the past 12 years for ourGolden
Anniversary, which is just a few days away on the 12 of Feb. Looking forward to enjoy it.
Nice
Bottoms up. !
I have King George V and just brought it out to open for New Year’s; now having second thoughts and maybe will save it for a really special occasion
Bought blue for one of the groomsmen at my wedding. We tried it together and it was one of the smoothest scotches I've ever tried. Will absolutely buy another some day :)
Only time I had it was before a wedding lol. Didn’t get sick so it gets an A in my book 😝
youtube algorithm worked like magic once again, i still remember being broke in college and cutting food money to buy johnnie walker black with my two buddies which we finished in three sittings. good times!
As someone who doesn't drink, I don't know why I find these videos so fascinating?
Just got a bottle of blue for my 30th birthday. It is absolutely amazing!
My friend bought me the White Walker a few years back, I still have the bottle. It was a neat gift as a casual scotch enjoyer.
Right on
Black label is a staple where i come from.
It’s the most common non-local alcohol you can find apart from beer or wine.
Even down to Secondary School (high school) Students can get their hands on a bottle or two for a party.
Enjoyed your presentation, thank you. Just a couple of things... both Johnnie Walker Red and black have about 40 different malt and
grain whiskeys in them. Also most of the smoke you mentioned does not come for the charred barrels but form the island
malts, primarily Tallisker and Lagavoulin. All Johnnie Walker scotches are equal, except some are more equal than others.
Stay safe. Thanks again.
Jim
Great info to add, thank you!!! ~Mark
"Stay safe" - now that was unexpected :) like reviewing whisky is a dangerous job
The UA-cam algorithm knows me well...
Enjoyed the video and the education.
They do a damn good job don't they.... I get sucked down a rabbit hole daily by UA-cam and when I realize I've blown an hour I always curse it...hahah. Cheers, ~Mark
I know right same here 🤨
I think the UA-cam algorithm forgot that i am only 17.
We sell the Johnnie Walker XR 21 at the Salt Lake City Airport for around $300.00 a Bottle
Never been a fan of the blue label, but I respect the brand. I recently bought it at a bar and the barman commented on 'the expensive stuff'. He was a younger guy and had never tasted it so I bought him one too (it wasn't too expensive at this local place, not like other bars around here).
Good sport mate
Lucky for him lol
A very well presented and informative video Mark. I predict in time this will be one of your most popular videos.
I appreciate your comment, thanks for watching and commenting! ~Mark
I believe them when they say the red label is the most selling in the world... it is a mass market product, cheapest of their range I believe, while at the same time has the name recognition... think of it as the McD's of whiskeys
Pretty solid analogy! ~Mark ps. Can I Supersize that?
Really? Comparing it to McDonalds? Isn't that an insult?
@@trparky ّNot really comparing it to McDonald's...its like saying Johnnie Walker red to Whiskeys is what McDonald's is to food... the analog here is that it is the affordable, mass market, mainstream product
@@trparky McDonalds is pretty low on the burger quality list (cheeseburger = Red). I prefer Burger King which rates slightly higher (whopper = Black), then In-n-Out (Double Black), then Five Guys (Green) is a good notch above it, then Shake Shack (Gold) - they slightly fry the burger and sometimes cook the fries the right amount of gold - smokeshack is bomb (lines are always long for a reason!), and then you start getting into Diners (18/Plat) with guac and special ingredients, and then Gourmet (Blue) territory where the patties are hand made from ground beef and go for like $25+. lol, I know this comparison is dumb.
Someone has fallen prey to marketing hype
As a 36 year old alcoholic, let me explain my experience with each of these. I got into hard liquor via single malts years ago and worked my way back into bourbons and blends.
JW Red - Total shit, cannot sip and should be used for jungle juice at best
JW Black - Decent sipping down in Atlantic City, kill a whole bottle without ice - easily
JW 2x Black - Definitely better than single Black but not by much
JW Green - Fantastic profile, very enjoyable
JW Gold - Fantastic profile, different than Green but perhaps better?
JW Blue - Overrated overpriced, I could name 5 single malts with more complex flavor profiles under $70 USD. Yet it is very good but it's price point feels like theft.
The rest of the line up, with the Game of Thrones nonsense should be thrown in the trash. I have nothing to say except I bought a single bottle and felt my tongue was molested without my consent
Love the video by the way,
Cheers!
That last description was amazing LOL 😂😂😂
Men I totally agree with you, for me the green label and the platinum are the best.
regards
At 38 i been all the way down the rabbit hole when i quit smoking weed and fell right into drinking... but you're right, Johnny black is the clear winner for price and taste and as for the RED..... it used to be ok for a cheap night of mixers and then suddenly.... maybe 4 or 5 years ago, you could tell there was a recipe change and it got real ethanol taste like some home brew junk.... or maybe i just evolved as i used to have the mind set, cheaper = more, but quickly realised better quality = more enjoyment and less hangover! 😁
yep, i also confirm, i fed my alcololism with a black label bottle per day with enjoyment...
Wont you tell me 5 single malts that better than JW blue for reasonably price?
I remember years ago having a bottle of JW Swing. It was in a bottle with a rounded bottom that would gently rock back and forth
A Johnnei Walker blue was the first bottle I bought on my 21st birthday. Bought it because a friend recommended it and I love it.
The 15 year old Green Label is definitely a great whisky, my favourite Johnnie Walker. I usually only drink Single Malts, but the Green label is a great way to introduce a newbie to the world of Scotch.
johny walker green is everywhere in Australia to now but we've always had the red blue and black and maybe the others at the fancy grog stores
Green is a great bottle.
@@masterxiong7368 indeed it is. For the money, green is the best of the whole line. Sure, the higher levels are better, but theyre not so much better compared to how much more expensive they are. Green is around $70- $80 and Blue is $200, but blue isn't necessarily $120 better than green imo. If I'm going to drop $200 on any bottle I'm not going to spend it on JW Blue.
@@JeepWranglerIslander If I’m dropping $200, it’s not going to be on a blended scotch. Anyway, the old Green was better than the new Green.
Old green much better than new Green
@@jonhamilton5789 i have 200 bottles of green pre 2012 for sale
Great overview. My wife gets me a blue label every year for Christmas. Thanks for the info on the black and double black etc.
Good for you!! Can't go wrong having some Blue on hand!! ~Mark
Does your wife have a sister? Ha ha...
@@bullitt773 trust me there are times I'd trade her in lol....
She is a keeper
Your host says Steven Coffee and you reply, no thanks I’ll have a blue label please
In my world there are 2 kinds of Johnnie Walker
1. Black Label
2. The ones I don't care about
Black is just an excellent balance of quality and price, its always my go-to
Black Label is one of my go-to scotches
This was amazing educational video for I guy who really just started drinking scotch 2 years ago I’ll keep exploring more thx
I've got a bottle of the JW Black Islay Regional Blend that was mentioned at the end. It's got a lot of the sweet notes of the standard Black Label but tamped down by a layer of ashy flavours (a lot of Caol Ila methinks). It's not a complex Scotch, sadly lacking the peaty flavours I like but it's certainly a pleasant sipping whisky if you have a taste for Islay.
Very cool!!! ~Mark
@@Scotch4Dummies it comes in a litre bottle too. 😁
"Methinks" ...... ugh
@@Nikp117 ugh?
Caol Ila is my favorite affordable scotch, thanks for the tip.
Johnnie Walker taught me how to walk when I got drunk.. 😂
Sitting on the shelf of Total Wines & More, there's a bottle of Johnny Walker blue with my name on it. Soon as I pass this exam on the 29th, we'll come together and celebrate
Save yourself some cash and get a gold or platinum. Much better value and Blue doesn’t justify the over double in price. But as its a celebration it’s also about creating a memory so I get that you want a blue.
@@alihilly1 Good looking out, I appreciate the tip ✌🏽
I always think about it, but i'm not at the point to sit down and really appreciate it for the price. I can picture the day / night... a few old friends, a cold night, a crackling fire, maybe a fancy cigar (i don't smoke but just for the memory i would spark one up) some classic rock (nothing to heavy) just a few old dogs telling stories of time gone by and living in that exact moment and appreciating some fine Scotch! 😁
seriously dude, the johnny walker blue edition is just the most generic easy to drink whisky ive ever had. very smooth going down but also very very little flavour
@@CreepyHisoka and thus you totally missed the whole point behind buying a expensive bottle..... You don't spend hundreds or thousands just for taste. It's a rare occasion, a celebration, otherwise i would never go beyond Johnny Black!
What a great, simple, comprehensive video you made. Thank you so much for teaching me so much about the Johnnie Walker line. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Green Label here. Always have three bottles in reserve, just in case. Has a big influence in my scotch journey. Had to buy bottles of Caol Ila, talisker, Craggonmore, and Linkwood which are the only malts in Green label. Gold would be my second choice. Gold has Cardu in it which is also used in Jane Walker. Cardhu was one of the first distilleries operated by two generations of women. Has a nice orange, chocolate, cereal taste.
Got to taste the JW Ghost Edition in Germany 3 years ago.....friggjn magic!
salty on the $$....glad you got a sip though!! ~Mark
Yeah, I think the bottle was around
€600
Hey big spender
Just finished off a Ghost & Rare a few weeks ago... now I have regrets every time I see the box and empty bottle.
The gift sets are great ways to try. Gold reserve and Blue label are in my top 3 for sure. Stunning
You like that Reserve, you should try the old 18 Gold Centenary Blend! ~Mark
@@Scotch4Dummies Oh buddy, damn you guys for brining that to my attention. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. Glad I found your channel though. Happy sipping.
The most I'd dare to splurge on JW is the JW Green label
Bought a bottle of the Johnie Walker White Walker about a week ago. Mind you, this is my first bottle of Johnie as I usually drink Jim or Jack. As I’m about to crack it open and have a sip I get suggested this video. Biggest coincidence of my life
Awesome video. I’ve done the Scot’s tour in Edinburgh once and have Red,Black,Double Black, Green, Gold and Blue bottles of Johnny Walker unopened waiting for retirement
The smoked taste of the red JW comes from Talisker (also JB entry level will have it).
The 3oz. of water (or 3 ice cubes) play an essential role in both the taste and smell in the Red JW, try it neat, and then with water and you'll see a vast difference...you'll actually be able to drink it haha.
Three ice cubes with red is actually a very admirable review for I have done it myself and I know exactly what you're talking about 😅
On another note when you brought up talisker I thought of the talisker 10 and that is literally one of my favorite bottles of single malt scotch I have ever had (the bottle I had was before they changed the label) and they are extremely hard to find in my area.... But I don't taste any talisker at all in the red whatsoever...
Green is my favourite although I've never tried the super special one's (king George and so on)
Really like the green although it disappeared for a while. I'll try to find a bottle now that it is back.
My wife just got me the 12 Days of Johnny for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to cracking it open 👍
I absolutely watced this, because it is of utmost importance to acquire this knowledge, since I don't drink.
Congrats on a GREAT talk on a great blended brand...One of the worlds best, in its category....
I was gifted a bottle of Blue Label from a sales manager as a goodbye present (which I have never opened). I had no idea it was that valuable, adds an additional layer of respect I had for the man.
Blue label uses a real cork so if you hold on to that bottle more than 5 years that cork is probably shrunk down never turn it over to its side or you will lose alcohol from leakage make sure it always sits upright.... In my opinion you should start drinking it and when you're done tape the cork to the bottle so it doesn't seep alcohol out from the top for the angels to drink 🥃 ‼️ cheers
Thanks for sharing this. Having tried most of the 'normal' Johnnie Walker's I find it very difficult to see past Black Label. Chivas Regal is another favourite of mine. I can certainly confirm the here in Scotland that Red Label is very popular although Famous Grouse puts more into their marketing than Walker does.
I agree and I used to drink the same brand of Scotch back when I was in college.
As I developed a more refined palate later on in life, I came to enjoy the expensive single malt scotch brands from various regions of the world.
It's fair to say that most folks will settle in on their one favorite brand and stick with it.
I don't drink anymore so those days are over with now.
@@matthewjackson9615 I agree with you d best whiskys are the Single Malts.
The Black label is superb. I like it better than anything else in the range all the way up to Blue .
Recently had a bottle of Blue for my 50th birthday - absolutely worth it!
The blue is my absolute favourite, my late dad was a red fan and in the 1970 s it was discontinued in England so dad went on the black , I remember the day many years later when red was reintroduced and the joy in he’s face !
Great video. Basically covered all the Johnnie Walker line of whiskey. Except for one, which was one of my favorite ones to drink as well as a really cool bottle, which is " JOHNNIE WALKER SWING".
Christmas 2020 I went through a JW Blue in 4 days solo. Beware - it goes down smoothly and is extremely drinkable.
You can have a seat at our bar anytime! Lol
The moment you said you did not like white walker I felt seen and respect your opinion. Far too many of my friends claim it's good Scotch
When i turned 21 i went on a cruise and got the all you can drink package. Drank black label and cokes for a week. Felt like a millionaire haha
Whiskey and coke 🤮
@@menaceIIsociety187strictly for discerning palettes
Dad's a red fan, started with balck and loved it.
I’ve tried the black, double black, gold and platinum. Green and blue are definitely on my list to try.
Anybody in the war room?
Blue was my very first taste of scotch. I loved it. Been watching ypu guys to help guide me on what to try next. Thanks for the help!
Welcome aboard Brandy, love to have ya' on the journey. There's plenty of room for everyone, you just have to get involved in the conversation. It's a fun ride and always more enjoyable with more people! Cheers, ~Mark
tried all the various wine / rum cask and hated them. green for me any day.
Love JW, Black my regular, Blue for something special. Recently got the KGV for my birthday. Need to get hands on the Gold. Great review, slàinte!
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed it. Surprised myself I've tried almost the entire range. My personal favourite were the (old) Green labels. My only regret was not collecting them. The Island Greens are just not the same.
Gold Label Centenary blend was always my favorite one. Leaving it in the freezer for the creamy texture makes it go down smoother. Tried doing that with reserve, not the same.
Same; Gold Centenary on the rocks is still my favorite Scotch of all time.
Ugh...liquor in the freezer.
Freshman that never grew up?
@@leecollard3001exactly 😅
Absolutely well done, thank you for sharing!
Respectful greetings
Moses
Thanks for watching! ~Mark
Great video, with respect I’ve drank whiskey that was hundreds of pounds a measure, doesn’t mean that I enjoyed it and thought it tasted better than a single malt that was 30 pounds a bottle. I love JW black, blended but superb. If it’s good enough for the Blade Runner it’s good enough for me, I drink it from the BR glass too, one measure is about 1mm deep, it’s a big glass!
Great presentation!!! This video is full of info, My all time favs…….. blk, double blk and blue!
Well done! The best description of the Johnnie's I've heard yet.. 👍
Wow, thanks! ~Mark
I find Johnny Walker is blended to be smooth at the cost of character. Easy drinking seems to be the goal of many distillers today.
It’s not a distillery
I’ve had all in the lineup to blue label and I must say that the green outshines the blue by a mile. I am at a loss as to why the blue is so expensive. I haven’t had the opportunity to taste any of the offerings in the lineup after the blue, but for my money the green and the double black are my choice when it comes to Johnny Walker.
Agree 100 percent
A lot of people say that, for my budget I like double black and std gold
Ahoy there my smoky matie.
My best friend in high school his grandparents owned a bar in the fifty's early sixty's. We found and drank cases of blue without knowing how expensive it was. 20 years old when we found it in 1980.
Blue is my go to choice for a scotch. I’ve been extremely lucky to have pretty regular access to it(including while golfing the other day which was wild). I don’t know if I would touch Red label anymore, and Black only if I HAD to, but overall, they’re all so enjoyable
This is a great start to understanding these blends, and I recommend that later you go into which single malts get used for the various blends because it really kicks a few skeptics offguard to find some of the best single malts they love making these blends. Awesome
Just discovered this video, really good information however you forgot to mention the Johnnie Walker Island Green that you substituted for the regular green. The Island Green is a duty free exclusive that comes in a 1 Liter bottle, it is a slightly higher abv at 43 just like the green but is a no age statement unlike the 15 yr green, it is less refined perhaps than the green however it has easily the most smoke/peat of any Johnnie Walker, I don't really pick up any peat myself in the regular green or black or even double black but the Island Green is a proper Islay style scotch with a nice amount of peat probably Caol Ila. Along with the regular green it is my favorite Johnnie Walker even over the blue or platinum.
I LOVE the green label, always have a bottle at home
This is my favorite channel name ever. Instant sub.
Thank you for this extensive overview. I notice you didn't mention the Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club. Had my first taste of the Spice Road blend at Schiphol airport in 2012, there was a tasting at their duty free shop.
Glad you enjoyed it! We intentionally didn't mention every JW or we'd still be recording These "Beginner's Guide" Series are to go over the core range and maybe a few notables, but just can't do the entire JW range!!
Thank you for this very informative video sorting out the different kinds (or maybe hues is more appropriate?) of the Johnnie Walker line up. May I suggest a beginners guide to the Balvenie...or perhaps Laphroaig (which I spotted in the background)?