Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year

Intrigued by the range (I had never tasted a Johnnie Walker in my life, I swear!) I took the mini-bottle tasting kit 5cl with the tops, Black, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve and Blue Label. Rank and notes: 5°: Double Black: a lot of resin on the nose, dried fruit on the palate, a lot of smoking and a little bitterish. Weak and bitter finish. None of that. Vote 2.5. 4°: 18 Years Old: I thought better, he too weak on the nose, hay prevails... On the palate light with dried fruit, grass and many spices. Not bad ending, the best part: sweet but short. Vote 3. 3°: Gold Label Reserve. On the nose and on the palate hazelnut and vanilla, hazelnut cake and dried fruit. Weak finish of custard. Vote 3. 2°: Black Label: big surprise considering the ridiculous price! On the nose and on the palate cream and vanilla, light smoking (not as strong as double). Short but pleasantly full-bodied finish. I also found a drizzle of peat. What can I say, with € 25 you take home a bottle far better than many 12yo singles on the market ... Vote 3.5. 1°: Blue Label: I was curious and doubtful. A blended NAS of 150 and more € per bottle, not appreciated on bible whisky but recognized as a great whisky. I disagree with his highness Jim Murray ... and I will immediately buy a whole bottle! The nose is light, but on the palate an explosion of sweet, honey, Williams pears, pine nuts, Catalan cream. Pure silk on the tongue. Long but not very long finish. A whisky to always have in the cabinet, to drink at any time. True masterpiece for me. Vote 5+ ______________________________________________________________________________ Incuriosito dalla gamma (non avevo mai assaggiato un Johnnie Walker in vita mia, giuro!) ho preso il kit degustazione di mini-bottiglie con i top, Black, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve e Blue Label. Classifica e note: 5°: Double Black: al naso molta resina, al palato frutta secca, molta affumicatura ed un po’ di amarognolo. Finale debole ed amarognolo. Nulla di che. Voto 2,5. 4°: 18 Years Old: pensavo meglio, anche lui debole al naso, prevale il fieno... al palato leggero con frutta secca, erba e molte spezie. Finale non male, la parte migliore: dolce ma breve. Voto 3. 3°: Gold Label Reserve. Al naso ed al palato nocciola e vaniglia, torta di nocciole e frutta secca. Finale debole di crema pasticciera. Voto 3. 2°: Black Label: grande sorpresa considerando il prezzo ridicolo! Al naso ed al palato crema e vaniglia, leggera affumicatura (non forte come il double). Finale breve ma piacevolmente corposo. Ci ho trovato anche un filo di torba. Che dire, con 25€ ti porti a casa una bottiglia ben migliore di tanti 12yo single sul mercato... Voto 3,5. 1°: Blue Label: ero curioso e dubbioso. Un blended nas da 150 e passa € a boccia, non apprezzato sulla whisky bible ma riconosciuto come un gran whisky. Dissento dal sommo Jim Murray... e me ne comprerò subito una bottiglia intera! Al naso leggerino, ma al palato esplosione di dolce, miele, pere williams, pinoli, crema catalana. Pura seta sulla lingua. Finale lungo ma non lunghissimo. Un whisky da avere sempre nel cabinet, da bere in qualunque momento. Vero masterpiece per me. Voto 5+

A few years ago, JW's controlling group introduced three new blends to the market: Double Black, Gold Label Reserve and Platinum Label – the only one with a defined age of the three. On the other hand, it excluded the 18-year-old Gold Label and the 15-year-old Green Label from its permanent portfolio. The latter, the only pure malt blend in the line. After all, Diageo would have eliminated two whiskeys with a defined age – one of which was the only one in its portfolio made up entirely of single malts, without the introduction of grain whiskey – and would have replaced two blended whiskeys without an “age statement” and a with. The impression is that the brand was sacrificing quality to reach a larger consumer base. Like making a movie with Michael Caine, but casting Nicholas Cage in the lead role. Compared to Gold Label 18 Years Old (Centenary Blend), its predecessor, Gold Label Reserve is less rich and complex, and much less aromatic. Source: Cão Barrafado website.

I read an article that said Johnny Walker is the best selling scotch in America, and Glenfiddich is the most popular distillery everywhere else. Having just finished a bottle of GF 18, i decided to enjoy this bottle after for comparison. I enjoy a blended malt as much as the next single malt fan, but i dont understand why JW continues to rebrand… platinum sounds good, 18 year may speak more to followers, but Gold is good, and we also have a gold reserve ??? On the nose: smells like christmas. Citrus and smoke! Grapefruit and lemon roasted with cinnamon sticks and some firewood. The palate: satin mouthful of fruit and festive spice. I detect candy cane sprinkled in cinnamon with citrus fruit. There is a touch of smoke and pine. This bottle is nice, but i prefer i the Gold label reserve. It tastes younger and more energetic in the palate. There was a time the platinum was the best in the linup IMO, but now i find Green and Gold Reserve to be better offerings.

This one is hard to find since Johnnie Walker stop making it some years ago. I just had the pleasure to taste it, because a friend gave birth to her newborn child and the husband was celebrating with this old bottle. first of all, it is superior to the actual line of Johnnie walker green label, gold label reserve and platinium label. it just is. i have never had a better 18 year old whisky, i dont know why i dislike whiskies of that particular age. Well, this is pretty good. On the nose you get Honey, orange and peat. very beautiful gentle aroma, sweet and delightful. On the palate is sweet at first with honey notes, but then it turns salty and spicy, with a full oakyness flavor, with a touch of elegant peat. finish is long and made me remind of cough syrup like the one you drink when you are sick. beautiful enormous experience

The nose is very light, but you can find some light honey, malt, and dried fruit. The honey carries over to the palate but it’s much stronger and accompanied by many other flavors including walnuts, red apples, berries, toffee, vanilla, and oil. The palate gets darker before the finish with some coffee and dark chocolate flavors. The rich palate reminds me of Tomatin 18. The finish is short except for a faint lingering maltiness which leaves you wanting another sip to explore more flavors on the palate. I’m impressed by this rich blend, and I don’t think it’s too overpriced for a scotch sporting an 18 year age statement.

I soon began to see myself as very lucky. I was able to find a 200 ml travel size version of the Centenary Blend. On the nose, the aromas of well-aged Barley Malt, Oak, honey, and peat smoke stand in solidarity. So it is on the palate. One word comes to mind as I drink this 2 oz of heaven: BURNISHED. This nectar has been distilled, and blended, to perfection. It needs nothing else, no water, no 'twist' of lemon or lime; only my time and appreciation for craftmanship.