Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 yrs Review
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- Everyone is familiar with Johnnie Walker Red, Black and even Blue, but not so much the Green Label, which is the subject of tonight's review.
Johnnie Walker Green Label is a blend of single malts and so falls into the category of 'pure malt' or 'blended malt' meaning no grain whisky is to be found in this brand extension. The ingredient single malts making up this blended malt are Talisker, Cragganmore, Clynelish and Caol Ila. All respectable single malts in their own right. When they come together in this interesting blend, there is much to be unpacked.
Let me know in the comment section what you think of this Johnnie Walker bottling.
Cheers!
Jason Debly
It's Debly season! Keep these great videos coming.
Thanks! Yeah, no golf in winter for me, well at least not in Canada. So, more reviews to follow!
Lets freaking gooooo jason
Haha! Sounds like a plan!
Always pleased to see a review Jason. Like you I know the history of this dram but I was sort of on the fence. When we examine it today, using our super-duper whisky intelligence what are discovering? It has an age statement so we know that each of those single malts in the mix must be 15 years old. Here's the thing; It's coloured, why? Any whisky of that age should have a respectable colour no matter what type of cask it was aged in unless, well, unless it was aged in such tired casks there was no colour left to give. That also makes me think those casks don't have much to flavour to add even if you age your whisky in them for 50 years. The malts in the blend are good so I think it should be a decent dram so why am I not excited by this? It's the price. There's a lot better for the price.
It's a front line Diageo product so we know they make a ton of money on it. This does not compare to a quality 15 year old single malt. The trend of using worn out casks with an age statements is increasing and I'm tasting whisky that doesn't live up to that statement because the casks impart so little. My recollection of the Green Label is it lacks complexity. Complexity you can find in quality 10 year age statement single malts.
Cheers Jason. Happy New Year. WT
Yes, the complexity in part comes from good first fill casks and what I am tasting is not first fill. Always nice to hear from you and all the best in the New Year!!!
In Brazil at least in my City is very hard to buy single malts or to try them at bars. The only "pure malt" drink that I have at my disposal is the green label and I really prefer it to most other whiskys such as the Chivas 18. But I wouldn't go as far as buying from online shops because my favorite spirit is Cognac. I'll be waiting for the Cognac review! Happy new year!🎉
I still have a sealed bottle of the original release right before it was discontinued. Back then it had Linkwood as a component malt but I guess these new ones use Clynelish instead?
Excellent point!! I think that makes a huge difference! I should have mentioned that.
Luckily by me green label is $70 before tax. Highland Park 12 year is $53 before tax so I alternate between both. Excellent review and I’m happy you are back at it.
$53 wow! I’d be hard pressed to pay $70.
Always a fan favorite. I used to always have an open bottle 25 years ago.
nice review , my friend just gave me the gold reserve, which I had never seen before. I have not opened it yet - I wanted to know, you have stopped updating your blog, I assume you will not resume and stay on youtube? thanks!
I will stay on UA-cam but yeah the blog I have kinda let slide. I enjoy writing but it takes time.
Anyhow, enjoy the Gold Label!
Great review Jason, thank you🙂👍. Informative and entertaining, but no Rex.
Haha! I purposely locked the cat upstairs or he would have made an appearance.😂
I picked up a couple of Johnny Walker Green Label blends just before Christmas and it’s my first go with the Green Label! I really enjoy it so far and I admit I have only had a few drams. I definitely prefer it to the Black Label and I have only ever used the Black Label for a mixer in cocktails. In Vancouver this was on sale at $80 Canadian and for us that’s a very good price point. Alcohol is more expensive and tax on top incl a provincial alcohol tax adds a significant on to whisky. I am a serious single malt lover so I hear you - it’s nice for a change but it does not compare to higher end single malt scotch. I have never had Highland Park 12 and I will give it a try. I am a huge peat head and often drink Islay scotch and I love them but change and seeing what’s out there is fun! I enjoyed your review a lot! Much appreciated! Cheers!!
Try Highland Park 12 yrs sometime. Has a very unique heater/peat note amidst the caramel sherry notes.
@@JasonDebly Thanks so much Jason! I will pick some up for sure! This sounds amazing!
Like you said the price is now a factor when comparing other bottles at the same price point.
How is it compared to Double Black? Friend of mine puts DB on the pedestal but I hated it. 🙏
Good question! They are very different releases. Really polar opposites because Double Black has a heavy / peat smoke flavor profile whereas the Green Label is a mild honey classic Speyside style with very little smoke or peat. I suspect you will like the Green Label if you are not a peat and smoke bomb flavor camp guy.
Nice review. My best whisky discovery recently for price point and taste is Cutty Sark Prohibition at 50% and non-chilled filtered. I live in France and can get it from Spain at Euros18 a bottle. So I've ordered a dozen bottles.
When you find something you really like it is always good to stock up because the producer in subsequent years may alter how it’s made resulting in a less than optimal taste.
Great Review!
Glad you enjoyed it!
100$ too in Québec but I still think it seems a good buy. A bit pricey yeah but let’s not forget it’s 15 years old and 43%. Some other 15 year old single malts around the same price are 40% and maybe not better than Green Label. Still, can’t blame you for choosing Cragganmore 12, such a good single malt!
do you like cragganmore, not many like it
😂I love Cragganmore and think it doesn’t get near the respect it so richly deserves. If you scroll through my channel videos you will see I have reviewed it at least twice in the past.
All the best!
I did the same as you, and bought a case. The different blend was disappointing, I never bought it again.
Hi Dane, I'm not trying to be rude in any way but is whisky sold by the "case" like wine? I've never seen the like in the U.K.
Yes, bought it at BJ’s wholesale in East Rutherford, NJ.
I love this one so sophisticated and delicious
It certainly is delicious! Wish I said that in the review. Happy New year🎉!
@@JasonDebly Happy New Year to you to Jason love your vids, I love the classic green label too. The new ones not to bad.
Do you know if the version in Taiwan is still the "old" green label by any chance? Happen to be headed there later this year.
And.. feeling a bit sad many of these "classic" whiskeys are being altered the last decade or so, you've reviewed lots of these. I get that it's a business and they tailor to what people want now and some of the malts they just can't source in enough quantities. If they just raised the price but kept the same quality that would be ok with me...
Would be ok with me to but as you say it is a business.
I think the version of Green Label here would be the same as Taiwan.
I like Green but still buy Black 12 over this; delicious stuff and better on the wallet. 😉
I had a lot of Black Label over the holidays and gotta say it works really well well with ice.
@@JasonDebly And it may be silly but I prefer the metal screw cap over cork; I just think you get a better seal after it is opened.
Thanks for the video and Happy New Year.
@@steveboyd3455 Happy New Year to you also!
What exactly prevents a blended scotch from reaching or exceeding the complexity of a single malt?
The grain whiskies (made from grains other than barley) exhibit simpler flavors that are not as nuanced and interesting as single malt whiskies (made from barley). Barley is one of the keys to great whisky and other grains like rye, wheat etc simply not on the same level.
I think you might have meant a blended or vatted Malt whisky. These whiskies are all pot still barley malts aged for three years and a day at least. 'Blended ' whisky involves the introduction of column still grain whisky (rye, wheat and corn and barley) in a different, more industrial process. Great Blend have to be really expertly blended but they rarely are.
$100 in Canada