Johnnie Walker High Rye

When this whisky debuted, I was immediately intrigued. I enjoy rye. I'm a scotch enthusiast. The two can complement each other. A high-rye blended scotch made from barley and rye? It sounds promising. Designed for cocktails and bottled at 90 proof? It certainly sounds promising. The reality rarely lives up to the ideal. On the nose, this isn't a particularly outstanding blended scotch. There's a hint of fruitiness and some spice, but nothing that suggests the "high rye" character of this blend. Tasted neat, it's quite average. There's a bit more spice and a longer peppery finish than I'd typically expect from an affordable blended scotch. It has a good amount of the sweet, honey, and apple profile common to most malt whiskies. There's very little of the peat and smoke I'd hoped for, though it's present but not dominant. The rye is a supporting character, not the lead. There's some ginger, a hint of spearmint, and a subtle citrus note that turns slightly bitter on the finish. I'm a fan of Johnnie Black, it's my usual choice for mixing and a regular in a Rob Roy. What most caught my attention about this Johnnie Walker release is its intended use in cocktails. In fact, I've seen ads promoting this whisky in a Manhattan (or perhaps it's a Rob Roy?). So, that's how I tried it. Mixed 2:1 with Cocchi di Torino vermouth, two dashes of Angostura bitters, a spritz of absinthe from an atomizer over the surface of the finished drink, and a maraschino cherry garnish is my standard preparation. Johnnie Walker High Rye didn't perform as well as its 12-year-old counterpart. Nor as well as Wild Turkey 101 rye. Nor as well as Dewar's Ancestor. Nor as well as... you get the idea. This isn't a bad whisky. For the $28.99 I paid at ABC (their listed price is $36.99, but I asked them to match the Total Wine price), I have to compare it to other scotch whiskies. Dewar's White Label is less expensive and yields a comparable drink. It has slightly more ethanol, but it's familiar. It's also less prominent due to the lower proof. Johnnie Black is the same price and offers a pleasant peatiness that I really appreciate. It's better in a Rob Roy. Naked Malt is a bit pricier, and it's superior in all aspects. Johnnie Walker High Rye isn't a poor whisky, it's a compromised one. It's a good concept executed without inspiration. My rating system places most mass-market products around a 2.5 to 3 on the scale. Above 4 is exceptional. Below 2.0 is the realm of forgettable mediocrity. This expression is average at best.

JW High Rye *NOSE: Malt, vanilla, rye spice, light apple & melon, with a hint of leather & toasted oak. There's also an underlying note of sour, musty grain. To describe it another way, it smells like the inside of your new tennis shoe after the first wear. Strange, I know, but that's what came to mind. Fortunately, after about 15 minutes, it fades and is replaced by berries that, combined with the malt, give a Berry Kix Cereal impression. *NEAT: Sweet vanilla, leather, malt, and apple on the front of the palate. Black pepper spice, rye spice, oak spice, and the faintest hint of smoke on the backend. Smooth finish with minimal heat, but the tingly spice notes build and layer very nicely. *SPLASH: Adding a few drops of water barely changes the nose. The palate benefits significantly as it harmonizes the sweet beginning and the spicy end, revealing honeycomb and fresh berries. A subtle hint of sweet peat appears on the finish. *VERDICT: I anticipated enjoying this, but I underestimated how much. I generally appreciate JW products, excluding the basic Red Label (though I've grown to appreciate it more). It's not as good as the Green 15 for me, but I preferred it to both Black and Double Black, especially with a few drops of water. It's so expertly blended, with the rye notes in excellent balance with the fruit, honey, and malt. My only complaint is the $40 price tag, but I've seen it available for low to mid-$20s. At that price, it's a bargain. This will definitely become a regular in my collection.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla frosting, a touch of sea air and brine. Fruity notes of peach and pear. Perhaps a hint of peat. That signature Johnnie Walker note is present but more subtle than in any other JW I've sampled. There's also a definite grainy, cereal note, unexpected from JW - likely from the rye. The ethanol note is just slightly too pronounced. As it sits longer, I detect hints of rye mint and herb. Palate: Sweetness with more of that cereal character – like a sugary children's breakfast cereal. Caramel, vanilla, and dried red fruit, which works well here. It's rounded with toffee and a bit of chocolate. Definitely some dried rye herbs, herbal tea, and a touch of mint on the palate. That characteristic JW chalky mineral water note (cough*Cardhu*cough) is certainly present, but again, subdued. The finish has notes of anise, dried cereal grain, more herbal tea, and a caramel/vanilla sweetness. This seems to aim for a rye scotch profile, not a Scottish rye. It's not ideal for sipping on its own, but it's not bad. It's unusual. And it's undeniably a Johnnie Walker product. The price is reasonable. I can't complain. I might purchase it again, but there are likely better sipping options available. Still, if you enjoy JW (and I do), then it's worth trying this bottle. It's at least interesting. (I don't make cocktails at home, so I can't comment on its performance with mixers. Any statement on that would be speculation, so I will refrain.)

Nose: Light sweetness, honey, toasted cereal grains, malty, vanilla, a touch of rye spice, orange peel, a musty grain note in the background, a dusty leather nuance, a very faint hint of peat, a hint of woody oak barrel, definitely shows a JW influence. Taste: Sweet maltiness with vanilla upfront, honey, a bit of oiliness, grassy herbal notes, transitions to nice rye and barrel spices, peppery spices, a decent wisp of ashy peat smoke. The finish is medium in length. Adding a few drops of water reduces the smoky ashiness and allows some other characteristics to emerge a little, like some fruitiness; someone else suggested fresh berries and I can see that. The finish becomes a little weaker. Overall, I enjoy this one. For the price, it could be slightly lower to be appropriate for the product received.

During my recent whiskey travels in the USA, I stopped at a convenience store and discovered a rare find I hadn't encountered before: a Johnnie Walker High Rye blended Scotch Whisky. This whisky is bottled at 45% ABV and is described as a 'rich and rounded blend of whiskies crafted from rye, barley & wheat; married with the finest single malts'. On the nose, I can only describe it as a peaty rye whisky, with salty, rice-like, vanilla, and creamy notes reminiscent of saltwater. On the palate, it begins with red fruits, vanilla, salt, and earthy undertones. The aftertaste is peaty and salty, specifically a chocolate peat flavor. Overall, I really enjoyed this experiment. It wasn't excessively expensive and was quite flavorful. The classic peaty character of the brand adds a nice twist to the overall profile. My rating for it is 88 out of 100.

Nose: Sweet honeyed malt and vanilla are the most prominent notes, with a subtle rye presence offering dry, savory herbs and grapefruit underneath. Deeper notes of caramel, smoke, and mild barrel spices are also present. Palate: The rye character is more dominant here, with peppery rye spice alongside more herbs, honeyed malt, and a smooth vanilla custard flavor. Finish: A lingering sweet malt with smoky undertones provides a satisfying conclusion. Summary: This is a unique yet well-balanced and consistent blend. It serves as an excellent bridge for encouraging rye drinkers to appreciate Scotch more. The price is great, and the higher proof is a definite plus. It makes me wish other offerings from this brand were also bottled at 90 proof instead of 80.