Review #406 – Johnnie Walker Red Label

Review #406 – Johnnie Walker Red Label

Review #: 406
Description: Johnnie Walker Red Label
Spirit: Scotch

Background: Kicking of the Suspicious Scotch Showdown, the staple of blended scotches.  Available almost everywhere and fairly affordable, this is probably what most people have when they first try Scotch Whisky.  I know it was mine, and at the time I highly regretted tasting it neat.Coming from a range of distilleries under the Diageo portfolio, let’s see if how my palate has changed whether it is as bad as I remember.

Distillery – Various
Bottler – Johnnie Walker

Brand – Johnnie Walker

Selection – N/A

ABV – 40%

Age – NAS

Nose – Malty, bran flake cereal, lemon zest, wet dirt, I think it’s the peated part of the blend but it comes across the nose as pretty bitter and sharp
Taste – Sweet malt, low sugar caramel, almond, lemon cough drop
Finish – Lemon candy, black tea, burnt walnuts, peat really permates with a bitter ashiness.  I think the low proof really allows it to dominate.

Score: 3
Would I buy a bottle? No

Thoughts: Certainly not as bad as I remember it.  Almost an Arnold Palmer likeness with the lemon and tea.  The nose though has an upfront and sharp bitterness that is then brought back in the finish where the peat would be aggressive for any non-islay lover.  It’s not that surprising that plenty of people try this and then come to the conclusion that they don’t like scotch.

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