Johnny Walker explained

[Sir Niko Earl of Holm]

Greetings everyone. I thought as my first post I would create a short and sweet thread explaining what the difference between all the Johnny Walker colours are...

Unfortunately I do not have any of them with me at the moment to give you any accurate account as to their flavours, textures, and after tastes of the experience so I'll have to go by memory.

We'll begin at the bottom of the JW Ladder.

Red - Aged 8 Years
This is the entry level of the series. Not everyones favourite, but definately affordable. It's more for the blue collar worker who wants to feel important. Unfortunately, the only way this will taste great is to drink a whole bottle!

Black - Aged 12 Years
The difference between Red and Black is enormous. Black is reasonably priced and the quality is excellent. This I put into a category for white collar workers who can afford a better drink and like to show off around their blue collar workers.

Green - Aged 15 Years
This, for me, is a minor special occasion drink, like New Years Eve or your friends birthday. This is something you bring out at the beginning of the night, when everyone still has their tastebuds. It has quite a smoky/malty taste but very smooth.

Gold - Aged 18 Years
Pure indulgence. Smooth and creamy. One could go on about the notes of this for days but I will leave it to you the consumer to decide. This is truly an extraordinary experience. This is the kind of drink you bring out when you have your first child or on other very special occasions.

Blue - Aged 25 Years
The pinnacle of whiskeys. This is so truly amazing to behold it usually comes in its own presentation box. It is a special selection of the rarest whiskeys blended together to create a sophisticated taste with a smooth texture. This is definately the gentleman's drink. For the average blue collar worker, this is out of their league in price, but even those who enjoy the Red will appreciate this one for its quality. It is a bottle that can be bought, for instance, on the day someone is born and given to them on their 21st birthday.

[Theodore S. Maul, Esq.]

Excellent post. I was not aware of all these colours.

[Count Silvio]

Welcome to the forums and a fantastic first post might I add! I had always wondered the differences between the labels. I've only tasted the red label a few times and I didn't think much of it. Infact I didn't like it very much at all. After reading your post I have decided that I must try the black label when I get the chance.

[Lord Neville Crispin]

Magnificent!

All first posts shall henceforth be judged by this example of quality, informative prose.

[Le Comte de la Vesteverte]

I think it's also important to point out that the Johnnie Walker you get premixed with coke in the bottles is, as far as I know, a younger grade below even Red. Not that you should be putting that garbage anywhere near your face.

Those colours are also only the most common blends of Johnnie Walker, there are many, many, MANY more limited and special blends, including various versions of Blue that sell for seriously exorbitant prices.

[Fez Wearing Brigadier]

It is a bottle that can be bought, for instance, on the day someone is born and given to them on their 21st birthday.

You could always save it for their 25th birthday and it'll be 50 years young.

[Sir Niko Earl of Holm]

It is a bottle that can be bought, for instance, on the day someone is born and given to them on their 21st birthday.

You could always save it for their 25th birthday and it'll be 50 years young.

Well pointed out Sir... the options are limitless really

[Dacaqa Fe Noyetuxuhe]

Welcome to the forums and a fantastic first post might I add! I had always wondered the differences between the labels. I've only tasted the red label a few times and I didn't think much of it. Infact I didn't like it very much at all. After reading your post I have decided that I must try the black label when I get the chance.

I can confirm that Black is quality drinking. I go no lower than Black in the Walker family of beverages.

[AngelSword]

I must contradict an idea presented in an earlier post. The concept is that a 25 yr old whiskey sat on a shelf for 25 yrs. becomes a 50 yr. old. Unfortunately, once bottled, without interaction with wood and oxygen, spirits no longer are considered to mature and age. So it remains a 25 yr old.

[Count Silvio]

I'm afraid I must concur with AngelSword. Very little happen to the spirit after it has been bottled. What kind of an effect would recasking have though? Any experiences?

[Sir Niko Earl of Holm]

Yes this is true. Nothing happens to the whiskey once bottled, however, a 50 year old bottle, aged 25 years, would still be a fantastic gift for someone and they would be more appreciative of it.

[Count Silvio]

True. Like a lost treasure found again.

[Baron Rupert Liberis]

It's also worth keeping an eye open for the one off bottlings and rarer JW's such as the 'Signature', 'Soveriegn', '1820', 'Swing' and 'Centenary'.

Though personally I prefer Single Malts.

[Count Silvio]

Interesting, I've never heard of them. Have you personally sampled any of these?

[Baron Rupert Liberis]

Interesting, I've never heard of them. Have you personally sampled any of these?

Nope, I prefer my simple Malts, I don't hold with this blending business, next step down from there is drinking from bottles in paper bags I fear!

I think there's a certain un-educated snobdom drinking expensive JW when you can usually get a much better single malt for the same money. It's just a brand that people are familiar with, it's well advertised and widely available, but basically they are blending some of the better distilleries cast offs to make them more palatable. Though they have got the marketing down to a tee being able to sell Blue Label in a fancy decanter calling it a 200th anniversary edition and boxing it nicely to sell for almost £2000!!!
Even the paying £900 for a relatively plain looking bottle of JW Honour is a bit silly when you can buy a 1976 30year old Macallan for £700.
ButI suppose it's all a matter of taste an opinion!

Though I'd love to try the '37 Glenfiidich, 64 years old, only 61 bottles came from the cask and they sell for £17,500 a bottle!

Before I take this thread completely off-topic, who's round is it?

[Baron Rupert Liberis]

The other day I got invited to a party
But I stayed home instead
Just me and my pal Johnny Walker
And his brothers Black and Red
And we drank alone, yeah
With nobody else
Yeah, you know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself
--George Thorogood

Came across this and thought it may be good to share here!

[Henry Deare, Adventurer]

What an extraordinary first post.
I don't think there's any other spirit in the world whose various permutations can be drunk across all classes. I am happy to be corrected though.

[TheBigCasino]

I love the Walker series ( Black being my favorite ), but for price versus quality regarding JW Blue Label, while good, I can't see paying a sum like they ask, for what is basically a blend. There are finer Single Malts for much less.

[Sir Niko Earl of Holm]

I bought a bottle duty free for AUD$167... very near 1/2 price and tastes twice as good... dollar for dollar that is

[Count Silvio]

I sampled both Green Label and Black Label last night, while the Black has a little more bite to it than the Green I think I prefer Black more in the end of the day since I the flavour is more approachable than Green Labels flavour.

Edit: Green is better.

[forrest]

I sampled both Green Label and Black Label last night, , , ,Edit: Green is better.

Count, i am going to have to agree with you. . . the Green is Better!
i have had them all, and Green is my preference.

[Count Silvio]

Is Gold worth the price when compared to Green? Or Blue?

[forrest]

Is Gold worth the price when compared to Green? Or Blue?

Well it really lays in your preferences.
For me, i prefer the Green, out of all of the 'normal' range (which includes Blue).

Green is the only 'vatted' malt in the bunch, and it really shows in palate weight.

Though to confess, i would much rather pick up a nice single malt any day (and usually for considerably less-- as it has already been deftly explained on this thread..)

[Count Silvio]

What about the other Walkers such as the ones Baron Rupert mentioned earlier? Any experience with these? I have a bottle of Swing sitting, or should I say swinging, unopened on my shelf waiting for review. I've read it comes close to the Gold label in quality, unfortunately I will only have red, black and green to compare it to.

I am yet to venture very far in the Single Malt world but I have Aberlour 12 and Glenfiddich 15 in the upcoming reviews and I look forward to tasting them.

[forrest]

What about the other Walkers . . . Any experience with these?

Well, i've had: Red, Black, Green, Swing, Gold, Blue, King George, and i've seen the Blue 200th Anniversary Cask Strength but have not tasted.

I have a bottle of Swing sitting, or should I say swinging, unopened on my shelf waiting for review. I've read it comes close to the Gold label in quality, unfortunately I will only have red, black and green to compare it to.

Well the Swing is in the 15 year range, like the Green, but it is a blend that follows more of the 'style' of the Gold. The Walkers are all blended to different 'styles' (one more Isla, another more Speyside-- etc.).

I am yet to venture very far in the Single Malt world but I have Aberlour 12 and Glenfiddich 15 in the upcoming reviews and I look forward to tasting them.

Well given the 2 that you have, i am fairly sure that you will COMPLETELY see what everyone is talking about with the single malts (where i work those 2 cost less, or around as much as Johnnie Black...). i can't wait to read the reviews (i will keep quiet and comment on the reviews...)

[Dacaqa Fe Noyetuxuhe]

I finally had enough money to purchase a bottle of Green today, so I have done so.

[Count Silvio]

Looking forward to hear your opinion on it.

[Dacaqa Fe Noyetuxuhe]

I have had two samples (both about full measures). First I had it pure, then (after waiting a bit) had the second sample with one iceblock, after waiting a minute or two.

From that tasting I enjoyed the first more, perhaps because I had already had some drinks earlier in the day. The ice didn't help, although it didn't completely destroy the main drink.

To each their own, but I will stick with pure Whisky in the future.

[Baron Rupert Liberis]

had the second sample with one iceblock

Ice in a malt whisky? Well, even in a blended malt it really shouldn't be done. A splash of water is all you should add to a Malt Whisky as it helps to 'unlock' some of the more complex flavours.

[Dacaqa Fe Noyetuxuhe]

had the second sample with one iceblock

Ice in a malt whisky? Well, even in a blended malt it really shouldn't be done. A splash of water is all you should add to a Malt Whisky as it helps to 'unlock' some of the more complex flavours.

Fair enough. I am not so experienced at this level.

I am at this moment having a small sample of it with a dash of water, as you suggest. Much better, although I'm sure you would expect that.