Johnnie Walker Red Label

By Grzegorz Jasko

Johnnie Walker in general is the best-selling Scotch brand in the world, and the bottle of the Red Label is one of the most recognisable spirit bottles on the planet. I don’t remember the first time I saw it. Probably a very long time ago and, for sure, in an American film.


Johnnie Walker Red Label

Believe me or not but I have never tried Red Label before. Yes, I have finally admitted this. When I decided to start my whisky adventure, I bought myself four bottles of Johnnie Walker: Red, Black, Double Black and Green—all on Amazon and significantly discounted. I got them as I wanted to progress through the ranks, having them, one by one, to discover all the differences in smell and taste. Naturally, I had to start with Red Label. That one was cheap. £15 per bottle. Very cheap.


What’s in a box?

In a box? Right. Red Label is the only one which doesn't come in a box. Nice bottle and nicely placed right at the bottom of the Johnnie Walker’s chain. You put them all together, and you instinctively know that Red will be the basic one. Well, still very iconic for me, so I cracked that open with a pounding heart. I will repeat: I like the bottle.


Let’s taste Johnnie Walker Red Label

Straight to the core.

The smell is not pleasant. Very distant hint of fruits, overpowered with kerosene, rubber and this very particular odour of fresh alcohol. The smell of vodka, that’s what I call it. I was expecting more from something which is considered to be a blend of “35 finest malts and grain whiskies”. I was able to smell a lot of grain, but this is something you can get from any bottle of vodka. Taste? Rough and harsh. Not very pleasant. You swallow, you burp, and all you get back in your mouth is half-digested alcohol. If you have never tried whisky before, I can’t blame you if you are immediately done with it and never want to try again. People say this whisky was designed to be mixed with other stuff, never to be smelled or enjoyed neat. I know it now, but it was not so obvious to me back then when I opened that bottle, my first and last bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Verdict

Well… Don’t buy it if you don’t have to. It comes cheap, and it is really worth the price. I don’t understand people drinking whisky with cola, but for me, Johnnie Walker Rel Label should not be allowed to be drunk neat. Avoid. If you get that for Christmas, pass it over. Or, turn into wine.


Notes for the Masters of Malt

Masters of Malt, I don’t know what you drink. Indeed, I don’t know how you drink it. I’m very sorry, but there’s nothing like a “surprisingly rich, aromatic nose with heather honey”. “Cedar wood, oak and butterscotch, aniseed, Christmas cake and malt”, so many words, maybe too much, especially on that level. You do get a long finish, I agree with that, but that’s probably something you don’t want in this particular case.


Please, leave a comment and let the others know what you think about Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Location: London, UK

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