John Walker & Sons King George V

My 200th whisky. As is customary with significant milestones, I aimed to try something renowned and special. This time, it was Johnnie Walker King George V. I only had a sample (as the bottle costs around $600, a price I'm relieved I didn't pay) (nor do I have the funds lol). A brief historical note: King George V was the monarch of England who bestowed the Royal Warrant upon Johnnie Walker in 1934. Consequently, Diageo crafted a blend using whiskies from distilleries operational during George V's reign (1910-1936), including Port Ellen, which ceased production in 1983 (though Diageo intends to reopen it). Bottled at 43% ABV, with a tawny color. Alright, let's analyze it... wait, does this taste like Talisker? I anticipated a sweet dram, but received an island profile. On the nose, everything is in balance: balanced peat, balanced vanilla powder, seafood notes (seaweed), pepper, caramel (toffee), aged lemon and oranges. If presented blind, I would confidently declare, "It's a Talisker." This observation also holds true for the palate. On the palate, it's very spicy and oaky, with a ginger finish. That was my initial impression. The aftertaste is medium, with notes of ash, balanced and smooth. Occasional hints of oranges and toffee appear. Smoke is also present, all in subtle amounts. It's perfectly blended, but the profile is quite familiar for any island whisky. Toasted caramel also emerges, but very faintly. Overall, it scores 88 out of 100 (22 points for each category: nose, palate, finish, and balance), and I don't believe I would purchase a full bottle for $600 when I can obtain similar notes from any Talisker for under $120.

I brought several samples on my vacation to Alaska and saved this one for last. I enjoyed this while viewing the Denali mountain range from the front porch of our lodge. The setting certainly improved my rating by half a star. I've sampled many Johnnie Walkers, and my favorites were always the Ghost and Rare Brora, followed by the Green (which offers great value). I believe this one has now surpassed the Green as my second favorite JW. However, a full bottle is rather expensive, possibly more so than the Ghost Brora. That said, I feel I can achieve 80% of this experience with the $60 Green. It has a light smokiness (perhaps from the Port Ellen component?), orange cream, vanilla, and fresh red apples. The first word that comes to mind is elegant. It shows age and maturity, with all the components harmoniously blended, not one dominating the others. A very well-crafted spirit. Would I purchase a full bottle? Likely not. If I were to spend that much, I would prefer the Ghost Brora, which offered significantly more complexity.

The King George Edition of Johnny Walker Blue Label genuinely offers a different experience compared to the standard blue bottle. Tasting them side-by-side, it feels much brighter on the initial approach and smokier in the mid-palate. While these aren't my preferred drams, they do share a significant similarity. I still think funds are better allocated elsewhere... even towards the Green Label if you're a fan of JW.

Aroma: Initially reserved. After five minutes, I detect nutty sherry, malt, and light spices. It's complex yet understated, with many other indefinable notes. Palate: Silky, coating, malty, with notes of berries, sherry, biscuits, citrus, mixed nuts, vanilla, caramel, honey, and barrel spices. Finish: Long, with malt, cereal grains, sherry, and spices. Almost perfect in a bottle. Honestly, if I had the funds, I could be satisfied drinking only this for the remainder of my life.

An exceptionally well-crafted scotch. The aroma is reminiscent of an older sherry-aged single malt rather than the typical Johnnie Walker smokiness. The palate offers a delightful combination of dried fruit, sherry, chocolate, cinnamon, and tobacco, with just a subtle hint of peat smoke. The finish fades slowly and smoothly. While whiskey aficionados often criticize Johnnie Walker for high prices and excessive promotion, this demonstrates the skill of their master blenders at their peak.

This review is for the Blue Label King George V. It's certainly not the standard Blue, offering a very rich profile with notes of chocolate, caramel, citrus, red fruits, dried fruits, salt, peat, and smoke. However, when tasted alongside Hibiki 21, it doesn't measure up.