Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

Marketing hype on whisky never gets old. It's like selling perfume via TV ads, a clear sensory disconnect. Lately, Highland Park seems to be the real master of this BS. I didn't know anything about Johnnie Walker Gold. I might be wrong, but I think there was once a travel retail exclusive gold 18, maybe? This Gold Label Reserve likely replaces that and comes with a pretty reasonable story from the marketing department's liberal arts grad: “Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is a luxurious and smooth whisky, with notes of vanilla and dark fruit – a wonderful tribute to the harmonious partnership of Speyside and Highland whiskies, with just a hint of smouldering embers from the West Coast. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is made for those unforgettable nights out with amazing friends” Jokes on you, JW Marketing team; I'm in a comfortable leather chair, enjoying blissful peace and quiet. An unforgettable night out, indeed. Nose: After letting this sit for about 15 minutes, there's still some aggressive spirit present. Behind the burn, though, a sticky caramel texture with honey, wood spice, cinnamon, mushy banana, and a very delicate floral/perfume note are all carried by a malt-heavy aroma. There's a hint of oily smoke, sadly not as much as I'd prefer. Initial burn aside, this is a lovely, rich nose built on simplicity. Palate: Light, quite dry, and a little waxy. Honeyed malt is obvious and the main component, with some citrus freshness accompanying juicy berries and quite prominent florals. Despite an initially drying start, it becomes juicier and a touch sweeter with each sip, along with a light vanilla. While very well presented, there's a very obvious lack of depth, and I'm largely forgetting what it's about between sips. The best aspect is the juiciness, but towards the end of the dram, I'm actually finding it a little plain. I had hoped to find the smoke that was but a whisper on the nose; sadly, it's not there. Finish: Medium-long. Surprisingly long, with vanilla, toffee, and brown sugar lingering in a waxy struggle between astringent and juicy. Interesting. Interesting. The grain component is obvious here as the sweetness that builds throughout the experience, but it doesn't seem to detract from the malt-forward and curiously juicy profile. Perhaps the grain masks some of the wood character? I don't know. What's present in the honey, malt, berry fruitiness, and banana are all just fine. The smoke and florals sadly fail to elevate this spirit; they would have been wonderful additions, but what can you do? Well, my standard suggestion in these situations with these profiles: pay less, drink more Monkey Shoulder. [Pictured here with a (fool's) gold mineral for a gold label. This mineral is a pyrite “sun” from Sparta, Illinois, USA. Growing in the ~300 million year old Herrin Coal Measures 50-75 m underground these discs of iron sulfide are formed by anaerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter in black shale layers. The bacterial processes produce chemical conditions that precipitate pyrite. Restricted by the sediments above and below, the progressive growth of the pyrite is forced outwards, growing elongate bundles that coalesce into a disc. Anyway, THIS. IS. SPARTA. And in Sparta we apparently drink Gold Label] Johnnie Walker running scores: Red: 2.0 Black 12: 2.5 Black Islay Origins: 3.5 Double Black: 3.25 Gold: 3.5

Review #39 - Whisk(e)y #25 Sampled as part of the complimentary offer at Budapest airport, so I cannot offer a detailed aroma description as I typically do. Nose - very sweet, honey, oily and very fruity, particularly ripe fruit, perhaps yellow apples. Palate - sweet and fruity on the initial taste, mirroring the nose, with sweet grain also present. However, the latter part of the palate introduces a very sharp grainy, spicy, and alcoholic note that detracts from the overall experience. Finish - short to medium length, with sharp spiciness and the influence of woody oak emerging. This is not an especially good whisky, and it is certainly not worth the typical asking price. At around 40 euros or more, there are numerous other options that offer significantly better value. I would absolutely not purchase a full bottle of this. I found the Black Label to be far more approachable and complex than this one. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

A refined, 18-year-old blended Scotch from Scotland, this replaces the popular Gold Label 18 from a well-known brand. It's built around single malt Scotch from Clynelish. It begins richly with notes of honey, heather, caramel, raisins, apricot, spice, dried wildflowers, and a hint of fresh banana, nutmeg, and earthy peat smoke. Its middle is sweet, adding notes of peach, mango, apricot, vanilla, hints of earthy smoke, and wood spice. It concludes with a long, soft finish with a trace of smoke and wood spice. March / July / August 2018 / July 2022

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 19/05/2022 Ankara Nose: Quite fruity. Banana, apple, and pear. Oak, vanilla, and caramel notes are prominent. Palate: The palate is warm, smooth, and slightly angular. Sweet notes like honey and vanilla are accompanied by smoky oak. Finish: Medium length. Fruity with a very subtle, noticeable smoke. Overall: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is a blend with a sweet character and a smoky palate. It's a light and elegant whiskey with easy drinkability and smooth aromas. 85/100

The aroma is sweet and nearly fruity, yet there are subtle, almost menthol notes in the background. The taste has traces of vanilla and something akin to crème brûlée. Once again, surprisingly, hints of mint emerge in the background. I might need to try it again to confirm it's not something I ate, but besides toothpaste several hours ago, there's been no mint. Some pepper and peat emerge on the finish. It's pleasant and decent, but I prefer the double black for less money.

Nose: Dark fruits, ripe orchard fruits, honey, a hint of butteriness, citrusy lemon, sweet straw or hay, lightly toasted cereal, vanilla, oak, a touch of sherry, well-balanced. Taste: Honey, dark fruits, light peppery barrel spices, an easily managed ashy smoke that trails at the end, with a medium-length finish. Overall, it's decent, but I prefer the 15yr green label for the price.