Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Wine Cask Blend

Following a weekend filled with an abundance of rich foods and drinks, including salted pork, ham, pasta, various cheeses, crackers, pies, a considerable amount of whisky, and numerous cookies, I opted for something straightforward for my next review. An affordable Johnnie Walker blend, provided by a friend, was my choice. This is one of the more recent non-age-statement blends from Johnnie Walker. The exact role of the wine casks in its creation isn't clear to me; whether they were used for finishing or for aging some of the components. Regardless, it's bottled at 40% ABV, is chill-filtered, and contains added coloring, giving it an amber-gold appearance with a subtle pinkish tint. The aroma begins with a distinct floral character, featuring heather honey and gentle oak. Vanilla soon emerges and becomes the dominant note for a time, which suits me fine as I appreciate vanilla-forward whiskies. Hints of orange zest, dried pineapple, red berries, dark plums, and figs are noticeable in the background and mid-ground. Honeysuckle, toffee, and light tobacco notes are also present, along with a faint scent of candle wax and a subtle smoky or peaty quality. The overall impression is of buttercream frosting, quite sweet indeed. More vanilla and tobacco return towards the end. It's a rather pleasing aroma, though generally quite light. The palate leads with vanilla. There are abundant red fruits, berries, and grape skins. Oaky, honey, and notably malty flavors come through. A bit of toffee, butterscotch, and tobacco are accompanied by subtle notes of raisins and figs. The peat is present just enough to be detected without overpowering the other flavors. Further butterscotch notes appear as it sits. The mouthfeel is light-bodied and very creamy. The finish is of medium length, quite dry, and rich with vanilla, butterscotch, and oak. I had anticipated a wine-finished version of Red Label, but this is significantly better than Red Label. It doesn't quite reach Black Label quality, but it sits somewhere in between. The aroma is very pleasant, and I do have a weakness for vanilla. The palate and finish are somewhat lacking, but given that it's an inexpensive Johnnie Walker blend, one wouldn't expect perfection. It offers excellent value for a Johnnie Walker at its local price of $30. I would choose this over Red Label for any occasion. It served perfectly to get my reviewing process started again. Score: 3.5. My thanks for the sample, friend. Cheers

I was browsing the shelves at my local store during the Black Friday sales, searching for any kind of discount. That's when I came across this new variation from Johnnie Walker. The Blender's Batch series consists of experimental blends, including those aged in ex-American rye casks or Spanish wine casks. This is the latest release, and I acquired it for a reasonable $22. It has the standard industry 40% ABV and clearly has coloring added to give the impression of significant time spent in old wine barrels. It has a pinkish hue and forms quick, thin legs in the glass. The aroma is still primarily influenced by oak casks and vanilla, with only the faintest hint of red berries and grapes. The taste is quite delicate, with just enough warmth in the middle to avoid deterring novice whisky drinkers. The finish is smooth, with notes of vanilla and oak, but it doesn't linger for long. Ultimately, I had decided to stop drinking Johnnie Walker some time ago, and this particular blend isn't enough to make me reconsider. However, I can see how it could be mixed with ice, seltzer water, or Sprite to create a lively, refreshing drink. If that appeals to you, I recommend giving this one a try, particularly if you can find it for around $20-25. For the experienced neat whisky drinker, it's another largely uninspired product from JW, seemingly designed to capitalize on trends. Its potential as a decent mixer gives it a slight boost in my rating, but it still falls into the 2.75-3 star range. Cheers, my friends.

Johnnie Walker Blenders Batch Wine Cask Blend. 40% ABV, Chill Filtered and Colored Ok, first off – it’s a JW blend that is reasonably priced and doesn't attempt to deceive you into thinking it's something more than it is (unlike some of the higher-priced JWs). Smelling this reveals young grain and a little fruit and cherries. The Taste is as expected. Thin, sweet, unexciting but enjoyable. Certainly better than many competitors in the $30 blend category. The Finish is immediate... perhaps a little grain spice lingers. This isn't bad for what it is. In fact, I can confirm that after 12 hours of walking around Disney resorts with a young child and a newborn, this whiskey works just fine on its own in a tumbler. Overall Grade: C

This experiment, designed for mixing with wine, prepares you for the disappointing spirit that follows. It's matured in red wine casks. The issue is, like another spirit, it's full of cheap grain whisky. Bottled at 40% ABV. The aroma is plain grain whisky: vanilla, fresh fields, and corn, with perhaps a hint of cheap chocolate. The taste is corn and maize. It's creamy and not unpleasant, but entirely dull. A mild vanilla note with a herbal spiciness lingers. Overall, this is an inexpensive whisky that should be avoided unless you're a bartender making a wine cocktail. 52 out of 100.

This one, meant "for mixing with wine," foreshadows the disappointment to come. It's aged in red wine barrels. The issue is, much like another spirit, it's loaded with inexpensive grain whisky. Nosing it reveals straightforward grain whisky. Notes of vanilla, open fields, and corn are present. Perhaps a hint of low-quality chocolate. The taste is all corn. Maize. It has a smooth texture, not unpleasant, but completely uninteresting. A subtle creamy vanilla lingers in the finish, accompanied by a touch of herbal spice. In conclusion, this is an inexpensive spirit that ought to be avoided unless you're a bartender looking to create a wine-based cocktail. 52/100.

The descriptions from others were accurate. The aroma is reminiscent of nail polish remover, not overwhelmingly strong but undeniably similar. Faint traces of red fruit and berry can be detected when smelling from afar or after the initial impression. The first taste caused a burning sensation. This could potentially be used for industrial cleaning; I certainly wasn't expecting that. After allowing it to breathe for a period and trying it again, it became much easier to drink, though still not enjoyable. It was on sale for $20, reduced from $30. It likely wasn't even worth the sale price, as that money could have been spent on something superior.