Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club The Adventurer

Nose: Very subtle and mild. Faint hints of malt and a brief flash of smoky ash, but it lacks character. It improves slightly as it warms in the glass, but not much. Palate: Sweet malt on the way in with smoky ash on the sides. The ash note grows as it develops, but nothing else changes. The texture is smooth and silky, and the palate is more noticeable than the nose. Finish: Very Short. Sweet, ashy malt. So, the only interesting thing about this spirit is the story of its failed marketing. The brand released the "Explorer's Club Collection" in 2012 but didn't realize there was a real Explorer's Club in New York. The club sued for trademark infringement and won, making the existing bottles a collector's item. As for the spirit itself, it's fine but unremarkable. It's similar to the regular version but has a more pleasant, smoother character and is a bit smokier. The grain spirit component is very apparent, but thankfully it's sweet and has a nice silky texture. I'd bet it's sourced from a specific distillery as it has that smooth quality of grain spirit made from corn. It's enjoyable, incredibly easy to drink, but ultimately forgettable and not worth the cost. I probably should have kept the bottle sealed and sold it, but oh well. "Average (barely)": 75/100 (2.5 stars)

This expression is quite distinctive. For me, it's the only one from this brand that leans more towards sugarcane than honey. It's not very complex, making it a hit-or-miss choice. Best enjoyed neat or with a small addition of water. It's quite affordable, and its color suggests a connection to the less impressive Red label, but I believe this is how the Red label should have been originally. It goes down easily, but by the end, you realize it's not a 18-year-old due to the strong alcohol presence. Like single malts, this whiskey will divide opinions; I fall into the group that enjoys it.

Slightly peated, with cinnamon and vanilla.

Sweet, lacks depth.