Johnnie Walker Island Green

Another sample from a companion. Island Green is a travel retail exclusive from Johnnie Walker, a blended malt composed of Caol Ila, Clynelish, Cardhu, and Glenkinchie. These four are intended to represent Scotland's four regions, though there are actually six (they omitted the Islands, which Islay is not part of, and Campbeltown). Bottled at 43% ABV, it is chill-filtered and contains added colorant, giving it a yellow-gold hue. The aroma is subtly smoky and quite waxy. Caol Ila and Clynelish are immediately prominent. Hints of campfire ashes and soot. Abundant honey biscuits, a touch salty and grassy. Orchard fruits – apples, apricots, pears, oranges, green grapes, and green bananas. The fruitiness from Cardhu is certainly noticeable. Vanilla, toffee, olive brine, and mild oak. While everything here is pleasant enough, it lacks the intensity to capture attention. It should be at least 46%, possibly 48%. The taste is fairly light. Gentle peat smoke and a mild fruitiness. A hint of pepper, brine, and phenolic notes. Lightly charred oak, campfire ashes, with Caol Ila being the standout on the palate. Quite sweet as well, with apples, raspberries, apricots, and a faint banana presence. Some of the Clynelish waxiness is present, but not much else. A light-bodied mouthfeel that is thin yet oily and waxy. It coats the mouth. The finish is medium-short, featuring smoky campfire ashes and a waxy character. This blend desperately needs a robust addition of Talisker to provide it with power. Black Label serves as a prime illustration of why Talisker should always be included in the blend. Furthermore, I believe Oban should have been used instead of Glenkinchie to introduce additional fruitiness and some Highland peat. Of course, making those adjustments would disrupt the four corners concept they aimed for, but so what? If the objective was to create a blended malt showcasing Scotland's diverse regions, why not simply combine the six Classic Malts? A blend of Lagavulin, Talisker, Oban, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, and Cragganmore (though this still excludes Campbeltown) might work well if executed properly. However, considering JW's history, they tend to err more often than succeed. Enough complaining; it's a travel retail exclusive priced at $55 for a 1L bottle from the world's most popular blended scotch brand; what more could one expect? Cheers

Nose: Very smoky. Beneath the smoke, fruit, toffee, and vanilla can be detected, but the smoke dominates rather than complements the other scents. It has a more phenolic and tarry smoke than other Johnnie Walker blends; initially, I would have sworn Laphroaig was an ingredient. Palate: Equally smoky as the nose, but also quite sweet with fruity and cereal notes supporting the peaty core. There are notes of cider apple and a light, almost sweet citrus touch. Finish: Medium/short. The smoky and fruity notes gradually dissipate, and there is less of the sourness in the aftertaste than I typically notice with Johnnie Walker blends. This bottling is to Green Label what Double Black is to Black Label – a remix of a successful formula to prominently feature fashionable smokiness. This blend, however, is more direct about that objective and is the smokiest whisky produced under the Johnnie Walker brand. It has a lighter character than Green Label, which is more integrated and substantial in comparison, and it also lacks the refinement and balance of Green Label. That blend possesses a briny note that greatly enhances its appeal, but it's absent here, which can make Island Green seem overly sweet. That said, it is a fine, high-quality whisky, and I can't help but ponder if it would be more widely accepted if it were branded something like 'Johnnie Walker Bronze Label' instead of 'Island Green.' Overall, I believe its quality is comparable to Gold Label, albeit with a distinctly different character. This is a Travel Retail Exclusive bottling; the price listed is from Sydney airport Duty Free. It may be available in some local retail stores, where the price ranges from $120-$160. 'Good': 84/100 (3.75 stars)

A friend crossed the Canadian border and obtained this travel retail exclusive bottle of Johnnie Walker for me. This is a variation on the standard Green Label, called the Island Green. The difference? It incorporates more island influence. I was expecting more Caribbean characteristics, not so much Islay. This costs about $55 for a 1L bottle. It presents a deep gold color in the glass with numerous watery legs and no beading on the rim. The aroma offered hints of tropical fruits, bananas, and light smoke. There's a sweetness reminiscent of birthday cake, but no discernible cask influence. The taste follows with light smoke, sweet peat, and candle wax. Apples and pears, along with a touch of vanilla, emerge mid-palate, leading to a mouthwatering and oily finish. As with most JW products, it doesn't have a long finish, nor is it particularly complex. Ultimately, I can't say it's superior or inferior to the standard Green Label. The value is enhanced by receiving a liter for a comparable price. I find it difficult to endorse any JW product, including this one. However, there's nothing objectionable about it either. I rate it 2.75-3 stars based on value for money. Cheers.

Nose - Sweet, fruity smoke, vanilla, black peppercorns, with a light, sweet, apple juice-like quality. Palate - Very mild sweetness, rather thin body, gentle vanilla and grainy sweetness, light filtered apple juice sweetness, with light smoke appearing at the end. Finish - Light oaky fruit, vanilla, grain sweetness, very light sweet smoke, and black pepper. Score - 72/100 Overall Assessment - A fairly straightforward blended malt, unfortunately not as well-integrated as the standard Green label. I suspect its target as a travel retail exclusive means it's designed to be simple and broadly appealing. Sadly, this results in a rather unexciting but very non-offensive profile. It can be enjoyed neat or easily mixed into a highball, but it's the kind of drink you have when you just want something in your hand. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

This is my second review and second bottle purchased. The initial one wasn't as impressive, earning a 2.75* rating, with unobtrusive smoke followed by a 'meh' experience. This current bottle receives nearly a full star more and made me regret opening it from the 'do not drink' collection. It presents notes of rubber, salinity, roast beef drippings, and sangria with added oranges. There's more peat AND smoke compared to the first bottle. They've amplified the entire profile in a way the previous one lacked entirely. This one is simply pleasant and peaty. It's genuinely perfect for a Rusty Nail. Sipping it neat over ice is also much more enjoyable. Drinking it neat reveals a malty, sweet fruit foundation. It's substantially improved from what my first bottle suggested. I regret not buying more than two while on vacation! While the regular Green label is different, it remains slightly superior to this one.

Oh dear... I bought this 1 L bottle at a duty-free shop assuming a Johnnie Walker Green Label with an edge couldn't go wrong. Turns out, plenty could! It's an adequate whisky if you accept that it bears little resemblance to the standard Green expression. It lacks an age statement, indicating the modifications made, and ultimately, it's just a dram dominated by smoke and peat with little else. The complexity, depth, and enjoyment of Green Label are absent. It's a shame, and now I have 970 mL left!