Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/4337
Happy 100th, Johnnie Walker Black! In 1909, brothers George and Alexander Walker—grandsons of famed whisky blender John Walker—were looking for a way to help customers differentiate between the family's two best-selling scotch blends. They decided to use a red label for their Old Highland Whisky and a black label for the more complex Extra Special Old Highland Whisky. The brothers finally re-branded their Extra Special in 1909 as Johnnie Walker Black Label, putting that name on the bottle, along with a statement that no whisky in the blend was less than 12 years old. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Johnnie Walker Black Label, a special bot- tling with decorative packaging has been produced for 2009. —Richard Carleton Hacker by Anthony Dias Blue Walking Colors O ne hundred years is a long time for any product to exist, much less to dominate its market. Johnnie Walker Black Label is celebrating its centennial this year as the Johnnie Walker brand name continues to grace more bottles of scotch than any other. Presently there are five different John- nie Walker whiskies, each with a distinct style. In addition to the popular Black Label, there are Red, Green, Gold and Blue. They range in price from the economical Red to the premium-priced Blue, with all the stops in between. Here is what sets each Johnnie Walker apart. Johnnie Walker Red (SRP $23) is made with younger whiskies and offers a vibrant, fresh flavor shot through with vanilla. It is long and smooth with notes of Johnnie Walker's characteristic smokiness. This scotch is highly mixable and lovely over ice. Johnnie Walker Black (SRP $34) is the classic, made with 12-year-old whiskies. This is the traditional Johnnie Walker state- ment with benchmark smokiness and rich texture accented with sherry barrels and aromatic American oak. It has balance and complexity with notes of fruity Speyside malts as well as hints of smoky Islay, par- ticularly Laguvulin. Johnnie Walker Green (SRP $60) is a vatted malt, a blend of single malts with no neutral grain spirits. It features fewer malts— only about fifteen—with Speyside, Islay and the other islands all represented. It bridges the differences between these whisky styles by emphasizing sherry casks. The most influ- ential malt in the blend is Talisker. Johnnie Walker Gold (SRP $85) is less smoky and offers a smooth, luxury style with strong influence of Clyneleish malt. This whisky is creamy with lush, peachy character and a long, mellow finish. This one is more elegant and refined. Johnnie Walker Blue (SRP $220) is the richest, with plenty of sherry cask influence. This is the full-on smoke bomb with lots of power and concentrated flavor. There is considerably less neutral grain spirits here which allows the blend of malts to sing out. Each expression of Johnnie Walker has its own distinct style PHOTO: RICHARD CARLETON HACKER 48 / the tasting panel / november 2009