Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Review #42 - Whisk(e)y #28 Tasted as part of the free sample offer in Budapest airport, therefore I cannot provide a detailed aroma description as I usually do. Nose - wow, very mellow, rounded and complex, subtle balanced smokiness, malty sweetness, fruit, approachable, balanced. Palate - on the front end it is very mellow, approachable, smooth, vanilla, honey, smokiness, malt, sweetness, oily, mouth coating, some dried fruit...but on the back end it is disappointing...quite prominent alcohol, sharp spiciness, and graininess perhaps... Finish - medium-long, very pleasant and rounded again with more dried fruit, but especially prominent is the caramelly, vanilla plum aroma. Overall it is special indeed, but I strongly believe it is not worth the very hefty price that is asked for it...150-200 euros even...i find the chivas regal 18 golden signature to have aromas that are much better integrated, despite perhaps having a lower complexity (but a third of the price)...Perhaps I would be able to appreciate the flavour more if I sit around with it longer than the given context, but given this sample it is definitely not a priority buy for me. Rating System: 5.0 - Legendary 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

At first I thought it was bland, very smooth but not complex at all. However, I have found that if you pour a respectable sized dram and spend some time with it, without cutting it with any water or ice, then a lot of flavours pop out and it just gets better and better. Starts floral and grassy, like a meadow, along with dried fruits. Then you start to get more honey, then eventually a bit of christmas spices and more sweetness, reminicent of christmas cookies. Its damned good stuff if you pay attention to it.

Nose - Some bitter peat, dried apricot, plum, stained lightly toasted leather. Palate - Light, smooth, maybe some bitter wood and more of that dried apricot/plum. Its a light fruity note, nothing crazy but nice and easy to sip on. Theres some herbal/vegetale notes as well that kind of pair well with the dry fruit. Almost like it would be a great whiskey to have with a charcuterie board. Finish - A very light a smooth version of the palate. Not my speed but definitely one of the better scotch’s ive had.

Nose begins with a strong smell reminiscent of a nice buttery piece of wheat toast. This is a complete one-eighty from the Palate, which transitions into sweet raisins or plum jam at the front end. The finish is short in length and flips back to the nose with toasted wheat and peat, with a short baking spice burn that lasts only 4-5 seconds. Overall a nice circular whiskey with the nose and finish matching each other and the palate bridging the gap well.

Jul 2025. Clear rich gold. Aromatic complex old furniture, cigar box, deep musk, tree bark, licorice, orchard, leather, bonfine, pine tree, humus, forest floor, and honey vanilla woody in nose. Warm and rich with toasted, old woody furniture, orchard, smoked sausage, bonfire, tree bark, earthy, dried spicy, gram masala, tiny bit of smoky ash and gun powder in palate. Awesome balance long spicy, woody, fruity, malty finish. 40% ABV medium full body.

Nose: Smoldering mellow smoke with sweet raisins and dates. A touch floral and spicy underneath. Palate: A light opening of vanilla, honey, and rose petals develops into more smoke along with zesty orange, dates, dark chocolate, and raisins. Finish: Long and lingering. Rich and smoky. Summary: Is it delicious? Yes. Is it overpriced? Also yes. Is it one of the whiskeys everyone should have at least once? Also also yes.