Whisky Whiskey

The summary episode of the Johnnie Walker Core Range series is my ranking of all seven offerings listed in two dimensions. The first, if money is no object and the second, which is the best value overall? Which will take the crown? The Red, Black, Double Black, Gold Reserve, Green, 18 Year or the Blue?

With John Chidgey.

The naming of the Double Black Label leads to the direct comparison with the Black Label, and despite Jim Beveridge’s intention with the Double Black to simply add more of the smokey dimension, I look at how they ended up creating something that was quite different and quite good. I look at the ways it’s different and which you may personally prefer.

With John Chidgey.

The top of the line Core Range from Johnnie Walker is the infamous Blue Label and at $300 AUD a bottle, it had want to blow my damned socks off. I speculate about why it’s likely a Non-age Statement Scotch, what it’s core components are, and try to decide whether or not you should buy into the hype. Is it as good as they say?

With John Chidgey.

The penultimate Johnnie Walker in the Core Range, the 18 Year, is the target today. I cover it’s similarly confusing name changes over the years since its introduction, which are its primary constituant Whiskies and try to decide whether having a Scotch that’s so damn easy to drink…is that a good thing…or a bad thing?

With John Chidgey.

The only Johnnie Walker that’s a Blended Malt, the Green Label, is the next in the review chain of the core range. I look at how it was on and off the market, it’s history since being called the Pure Malt in 1997 and how it’s truly unique in the Johnnie Walker line up…it’s very different…and it’s very, good.

With John Chidgey.