Johnnie Walker Black Label Islay Origin

Nose: Immediate, yet mellow, peat with a hint of sea brine. Sweetness from light citrus oil and some general sherry notes. A faint toffee richness is present, alongside a whisper of tar. Palate: Smoky, very smoky, with a spicy kick. It feels substantial yet somewhat coarse (again, smoky) in texture, with mild leather and maybe a thin, watery honey. The palate doesn't quite match the nose's promise, but the straightforward profile is well executed. Finish: Short to medium. Smoke transitions to a gentle smokiness, accompanied by some of the toffee from the nose. A subtle, almost lime-like sweetness also appears. I recall a lemon note from a previous Caol Ila experience years ago; perhaps I'm imagining it. Does Caol Ila typically present lemon? The finish concludes with a pleasant maltiness. This was an intriguing blend. The nose and finish were lovely, but the palate was a letdown. Not that it was poor, just a bit dull. The flavors present were spot-on, but I found myself lingering on the nose and then eager for the finish. I'm not sure I've ever sampled the standard JW Black, but Double Black is a fitting comparison. While I haven't had JWDB recently, my memory suggests its honey and BBQ notes are more developed and engaging on the palate than this Islay Origins Black Label. Nevertheless, I'm captivated by the nose and finish here. That's a clear win for the Islay Origins. A friend generously shared this dram and mentioned it was available for AUD$70, with a remarkable offer of AUD$58 at one point. Finding it in Australia is difficult; it seems they acquired the entire Australian allocation. An excellent purchase at AUD$70, and an absolute bargain below $60 if you can find it. (This evening's pour is presented with a classic Scottish rock: the 427-million-year-old Ballachullish Granite from Argyllshire in the Southwest Highlands, a remarkable piece of the Caledonian Orogeny.)

The aroma is immediately smoky and briny, with that distinctively tarry, sherry-soaked character that unmistakably identifies it as Lagavulin. A sweet orange and cooked fruit element offers substantial body, giving the impression of a PX cask influence. It's a very pleasing aroma that improves with time. The initial taste is rich and full, featuring dried fruits and dense, smoky ash. The progression is somewhat limited; one could dismiss it as one-dimensional, but its existing profile is executed perfectly. The texture is heavy and coats the mouth. The finish is of medium length, characterized by sooty smoke, a hint of salted toffee, and subtle fruity notes on the tail. It's warming and satisfying, with a lingering barley sugar sweetness. The packaging states it contains "a variety of Islay whiskies with Lagavulin and Caol Ila at its heart." Given the producer's portfolio, this is hardly surprising. This is a well-crafted blended malt, skillfully made. While its complexity might be constrained, it excels at presenting maritime smokiness against a smooth, creamy backdrop. Diageo's recent Centenary Blend was an excellent, albeit expensive and perhaps challenging for novices, scotch. This, in contrast, is the quintessential everyday smoky blended malt. It surpasses the current Black Label, which has declined in quality, and is more refined than Double Black – both are blended scotches. Priced at AUD$70, it's about 50% more than Black Label and midway between Black Label and Green Label. However, as a blended malt, the cost is justified. Is it an inferior Green Label? No, it possesses a distinct character. It's highly accessible and enjoyable for sipping, too refined for mixing. I plan to purchase another bottle while it's on special. Excellent value and recommended. Rating: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

It's quite remarkable for me to admit, but it has been ages since my last Johnnie Walker. I've noticed these new travel retail versions, which are essentially blends from specific Scottish regions. Naturally, I had to choose the Islay one if given the opportunity. Bottled at 40% ABV. The aroma presents the standard pleasant peaty scent. Dried plums, ash, and smoky notes. It reminds me of cotton socks with the gray toe area. A stale vanilla, like the kind you detect on a cake that's been in the refrigerator and is about to spoil the next day, but is still edible on its final day. Pepper and salt notes are also present. On the palate, it's quite decent. Vanilla cake, pepper, and saltiness. It's surprisingly light for a peated whisky. Sawdust notes. The aftertaste had a nice peatiness but was far too brief. Ashy and salty. The sawdust impression is handled well. Overall, I can understand why JW played it very safe with this one, as Islay profiles can be off-putting to some, and I can also see this blend as an introduction to peated spirits. It's not bad, not exceptional, very drinkable; my rating is 80 out of 100.

The aroma, as anticipated, reveals the whisky's peaty and maritime character, with notes of barbecue smoke and salt. The smoke is actually quite mild, allowing ample space for fruity flavors with lemon zest and a hint of spice. The palate becomes more robust and substantial, very ashy, with the maritime element acting as a counterpoint alongside citrus and cloves. Smoke tends to dominate, offering very little development. The finish is medium in length, with notes of a used ashtray, salt, and orange. Intended to represent Islay, they obviously took the most straightforward and direct approach, offering a whisky rich in smoke and sea air that emphasizes these two most characteristic aspects without providing much else. On the other hand, for such an economical and simultaneously "limited" edition, we couldn't have expected much more. Certainly, at this point, for the same price, it's better to opt for one of the base malts used in the blend...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 20/03/2022 Istanbul Nose: Intense peat, smoke, and iodine aromas are accompanied by burnt plastic scents. Smoky and medicinal notes are dominant. As the glass aired, I detected medicinal sea air aromas. Palate: Smoky, salty, and spicy flavors are quite prominent. The salt and spice are slightly more forward than the smoke, with the spice being particularly dominant. Despite this, it's remarkably smooth. There's a very slight hint of seaweed and lime. Finish: A medium-long, warm finish with salt, spice, and smoky notes. Overall: Islay Origin has produced an expression that is as peaty as any Islay malt on the nose, yet surprisingly smooth on the palate. I can particularly say I strongly detected the influence of Caol Ila.

Nose: Slightly antiseptic and iodized, with a subtle citrus hint emerging at the end. It brings to mind a young, unrefined Islay Single Malt, such as Ardbeg Wee Beastie (5 years old) or Lagavulin 8 years old. Palate: Quite peppery, with the peppery ashiness from the Caol Ila component clearly discernible in this blend. A mild berry sweetness is present, followed by a lingering smokiness with notes of meat, suggesting the Lagavulin influence. Finish: A brief burst of smoke, straightforward. This is not a highly complex dram. While the Caol Ila and Lagavulin elements of the blend are detectable, they don't combine ideally. It's not an intense peat experience, but for a blend, it's far from the worst.