One of the reasons I enjoy Johnnie Walker whiskies is because many of them are affordable and easy to find. To me, whisky doesn’t have to be hard to find or expensive to be good. So, with that said, today let’s talk about Johnnie Walker Red Label, which I found out has some very mixed reviews. Let’s get into the whisky and my thoughts.
Red Label is a blend of 35 whiskies, including Cardhu, Caol Ila, Cameronbridge, and Teaninich.
Nose: Cinnamon, pepper, and a light sweetness
Palate: Vanilla, toffee, light honey, and cinnamon
Finish: Warming with hints of smoke
ABV: 40% | Cost: $25 (for a 750ml)
Personally, I really enjoy this expression. It is a thin whisky, almost watery, but I think that helps make it easy to drink. In my opinion, this could be a good whisky for beginners or cocktail drinkers. And at this price point, I think it would work well in cocktails, especially a highball.
What I got the most from this expression was vanilla and a light sweetness. I did get some cinnamon and toffee, but for me, those notes were fleeting. On the finish, I got a nice warmth from the dram and, yes, some subtle notes of smoke. The smoke was there, but it disappeared quickly and was by no means overwhelming. Maybe it’s because I truly love smoky whiskies, but I found the smoke in this one to be barely there.
One of the biggest things I love about this whisky is that you can find it in a 50ml bottle, which gives you the chance to sample it before committing to a full bottle. Instead of spending around $25 for a 750ml, we paid just $1.49 for our little 50ml bottle. Overall, this is simply an easy-drinking, easy-to-find whisky that I think works well on its own or for mixing into cocktails. Is it the most complex whisky? No. But does it need to be? I don’t think so. For $1.49, grab the mini and decide for yourself.
Cheers!
Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.
I do enjoy miniatures & tend to pick them up wherever I find them.
Johnnie Walker did a fabulous Discover Pack containing 5 miniatures from Black right up to Blue.
As usual I conducted a Blind Tasting on them.
The Blue narrowly missed out to the 18 Year Old!
I’d have never been able to justify the price of 5 full size bottles to conduct this very tasty drinking experience!
Oh wow! Getting a discovery pack would have been amazing. I don’t think I’ve seen those here. Will have to keep an eye out.
Honestly, I think some whisky prices are just too high. Miniatures are truly the best way to go and I really wish all distillers would simply make them.
Cheers! 🥃