Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/49694
COVER STORY Adams. "It's just that everything you like about Black Label—the smoke, the richness of the sherry barrels—is punched up a little." The man behind Double Black is Johnnie Walker master distiller Jim Beveridge. Given the fact that there are up to 40 different whiskies in the blend, combined with the universal popularity of Black Label, it took a combination of courage, confidence and skill to create a variation of an already-proven market leader. "We wanted to bring out something that would surprise and delight existing Johnnie Walker Black Label drinkers, and increase their bond to the Johnnie Walker franchise," says Morgan. "So we're not really going after new drink- ers here, although it's possible that the additional smokiness of Double Black may intrigue and attract some malt enthusiasts to try it. Remember, this is a huge departure for us—we haven't done anything to Black Label since it was introduced in 1909, so to bring out With over seven million barrels of whisky aging in Scotland, Johnnie Walker Master Distiller Jim Beveridge had a lot to choose from to create Double Black. Jazz Meets Johnnie Walker at Spaghettini To say the regular patrons of Seal Beach, CA's Spaghettini Italian Grill and Lounge have a comfortable relationship with the venue's Bar Manager, Rob Rubinkan, is a bit of an understatement. When word got out that the popular dining establishment and jazz club was going to start pouring Johnnie Walker Double Black, the familiar faces that routinely pop in for drinks had no qualms about letting their feelings known to Rubinkan directly. "A handful of our regulars who drink whisky told me to text them the moment the first ship- ment arrived," Rubinkan says. Quirky? Perhaps. However, such a scenario suits Spaghettini Rob Rubinkan. 46 / the tasting panel / december 2011 perfectly. After all, this revered restaurant that straddles the border of Los Angeles and Orange County,"We're an Orange County restaurant with an L.A. vibe," Rubinkan states—has been building up cherished relationships with its customers since it opened in 1988, through a unique blend of elegant Northern Italian cuisine and nightly offerings of sultry jazz tunes. In a way, Spaghettini's beverage program serves as the perfect bridge between food and music. Indeed, the venue's inclusion of Johnnie Walker Double Black highlights a passionate devotion to quality libations that can work in either milieu. And while Rubinkan is scheming to conjure up a few cocktails built around the newly introduced potable, the plan now is serve it in its pure, unadulter- ated neat form. "The drink has such a great 'Scottish campfire' essence about it," Rubinkan says, "so we want to give it some time speak for itself." —Rich Manning PHOTO: LEIGH CASTELLI