John Walker & Sons King George V

“Wishful Thin King”

Whisky Review # 1057

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Brand: John Walker & Sons King George V
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks 

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 450-500 (February 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😃 It's a nice but not exceptional Blend if you can afford it

Colour: Golden Amber (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

Sweet and a little Shy. It may be a luxury Blend but it is a Blend and the Grain Alcohol is noticeable in the background. The Nose is quite inoffensive and you can clearly smell the Ex-Sherry casks. There's a little Smoke as well & that enhances the Aroma profile. It's quite pleasant all in all but at this price level I expected a bit more depth and complexity.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruits (Apricot, Plums, Figs, Raisins, Banana), Cooked Orchard Fruit, Toasted Almonds, Orange, Dusty Oak, Leather, Dark Chocolate, Pepper, Menthol/Mint, Ginger, Cinnamon and a hint of Smoked Pork.  
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Wax, Smoke, Ash, Cigar Box, slightly Sour Grapefruit and Lemon, Floral Perfume, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Blackberry Jam, Nutmeg and Cloves, Peanut Butter, Wood Polish and Tropical Fruit Cocktail.     

Cardhu Distillery

Palate:

Sweet & Smooth but also on the Thin side. The Grain Alchol remains noticeable. On the Palate King George V is mainly Sweet but also presents a very nice Salty accent. Again slightly underwhelming. Just a faint hint of Peat Smoke. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums, Apricots and Figs, Cooked Apples, Orange, Espresso, Leather, Licorice, Menthol/Mint, Toasted Almonds, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.      

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Syrup, Straw, Canned Peach and Mandarins, Smoke, Earth, Ash, Slightly Sour Lemon and Cranberries, Blackberry Jam, Herbal Tea, Cloves, Nutmeg and Salted Pork.     

 

Royal Lochnagar

Finish:

Medium-Long and a little on the Thin side. This should have been bottled at 46%. It's Mainly Sweet with a nice Salty notch towards the Medium-Dry end. The Grain Alcohol remains noticeable. I find Sweet Malted Barley, Toasted Grain, Caramel,  Toffee, Syrup, Honey, Straw, Canned Peach, Orange-Flavored Dark Chocolate, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Raisins and Figs, Toasted Almonds, Smoke, Ash, Earth, Dusty Oak, Herbal Tea, Blackberry Jam, Menthol/Mint, Pepper, Ginger & Nutmeg. As always the Finish is the weaker part of the JW blends.

Drinking Advice:

King George V does not improve with added Water.

Rating: 8 (********)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but underwhelming

Conclusion:

John Walker & Sons released this Special Edition in 2007 to celebrate the Royal Warrant that King George V awarded the company in 1934. It is made with Single Malts from distilleries that were operating during the reign of King George V from 1910 to 1936. It includes a.o. Cardhu, Royal Lochnagar, Port Ellen and very old Grain Whisky to try & replicate the Johnnie Walker style of that period. Packaging and Bottle are really luxurious.

If only the contents were just as luxurious! Don't get me wrong, the King George V is a nice blend but at this price level anything else would be ridiculous. I was expecting a lot more though despite my concerns about the low ABV. The 43% is not good enough for a project like this. As a result it's rather on the Thin side on the Nose and on the Palate. It is said that very old Grain Whisky was used in the blend but even very old Grain Whisky remains noticeable. As does the very Malty Cardhu. I could drink this Blend on a daily basis as it's quite nice but it's way too expensive for that. And for a special occasion you can buy a very good Single Malt at this price level. The British new wave band China Crisis remained in my head during this Tasting session. And indeed I consider this John Walker & Sons King George V blend to be a Wishful Thin King!   

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                February 20, 2025

Atholl Highlander 10 Years

“War (What Is It Good For)”

Whisky Review # 991

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Unknown

Brand: Atholl Highlander

Produced, Matured and Bottled in Scotland for: The Atholl Highlanders

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Unknown. Most likely Refill Ex-Bourbon casks

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price: Around US$ 20 in Auctions (June 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐  Okay at around US$ 20
Buying Advice: 👎 Nothing really enjoyable here

Colour: Chardonnay (Probably Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

A rather unexpressive Nose that reminds me of an average Blended Scotch Whisky that matured in 3rd and/or 4th Refill casks. Medium Sweet with some Sour notes. Lots of Grass and Straw with a few Floral tones. The Alcohol is noticeable.

Main Aromas:

Grain, Buttered Toast, Yeast, Old Bread, Grass and Straw, Nut Shells, Lemon Zest, Floral Soap & some Green Herbs.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Malted Barley, Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Apples, Pears, Apricot-filled Pastry, Pepper, Cinnamon and Mint.

Palate:

Thin. A mix of Sugary Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. It's rather Hot as well. The Atholl Highlanders deserve more than this. And so do I.

Main Flavours:

Grains, Sugar, Caramel, Grass & Straw, Nut Shells, Caffe Latte, Refill Casks, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Barley, Toffee, Vanilla, Apricot-filled Pastry, Apple, Pear, Lemon and Orange Zest, Plastic and Grapefruit.

Finish:

On the Thin side. Medium-Long & rather Hot. Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour notes.  I find Grain, Toffee, Sugar, Honey, Straw, Green Apple, Unripe Pear, Grass and Straw, Caffe Latte, Lemon and Orange Zest, Grapefruit, Refill-Casks, Nut Shells, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Mint. A slight PVC Off-Note.

Drinking Advice:

I added a bit of Water and the Barley starts to peep through. It also becomes less Sharp. A few drops can't hurt here.

Rating: 6 (******)

Nose:  6 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 5.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay at best

Conclusion:

The Blair Castle is located in Pitlochry (Pertshire) in the Southern Highlands. It dates from 1269 and has been the home of the Earls & Dukes of Atholl for over 700 years. Queen Victoria stayed at the castle in 1844 and presented the Duke of Atholl with colours for his men, the Atholl Highlanders. They are still in existence today and form the only private army in Europe.

I have no idea where this Single Malt was distilled. You would expect it to be Blair Atholl situated around the corner. But somehow I don't think so as the little box only mentions "Distilled in Scotland". Probably a Highland distillery though. I also don't know if the Atholl Highlanders are good soldiers. But in any case they deserve a better tribute than this 10 year old Single Malt. As the officer in charge of the Atholl Highlanders would command: "Dismissed".

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           June 13, 2023

The Electric Coo Series 27 Years

“Watts in a Name”

Whisky Review # 987

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Undisclosed

Brand: The Electric Coo Series

Produced, Matured and Bottled By/For: Campbeltown Whisky Company Ltd. (CWCL)

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 27 Years - Distilled: 1993 - Bottled: 2020

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 42.1%
Maturation: Re-Fill Ex-Sherry Butt

Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 85 (April 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good
Buying Advice: 😐 More interesting than your average Blend. A bit Thin though.

Colour: Golden Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Nose is pleasant albeit a little thin considering its age. It's well-matured though and the Alcohol is nicely integrated. Both the Grain(Glue) and the Re-Fill Sherry Cask (Dried Fruits and Nuts) make themselves known. No Off-Notes to be found and no Sulphur as well. The Nose is mainly Sweet with a few Sour, Mineral and slightly Bitter notes for balance.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Grain, Malted Barley, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Figs and Prunes, Fruitcake, Mixed Nuts, Red Berries and Cherries, Milk Chocolate, Citrus Peel (Orange and Lemon), Glue, Coconut, Dusty Casks, Cinnamon, Tobacco & Leather.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Buttered Toast, Syrup, Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Wet Rocks, Grass, Cafe Latte, Sweet White Wine, Apple Vinegar, Toasted Pineapple, Pepper, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Campbeltown

Palate:

Mostly Sweet with a few Sour and Mineral notes and a light Bitterness for balance. It's a bit on the Thin side and a slightly higher ABV would have helped here. It's not bad but a bit Rough and Sharp when compared to the Nose.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Grain Alcohol, Malted Barley, Caramel, Honey, Red Berries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Figs, Prunes and Apricots, Mixed Nuts, Grapefruit, Citrus Peel (Orange and Lemon), Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Tobacco and Leather.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Grass, Wax, Buttered Toast, Dark Cherries, Glue, Nail Polish, Caffe Latte, Coconut, Milk Chocolate, Fruitcake, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves and Licorice.

Finish:

Short/Middle Long and a little Thin. A mix of Sweet and Sour notes with only a very mild Bitterness towards the Medium Dry end. Quite a bit of Spice now from the cask. I also find Sweet Grain, Malted Barley, Brown Sugar, Caramel, Grass, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Prunes, Figs Sultanas and Apricots, Red Berry-Flavored Yogurt, Glue, Nail Polish, Mixed Nuts, Caffee Latte, Cocoa Powder, Grapefruit, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Leather, Tobacco and light Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

This Blend does not improve with added Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Electric Coo Series have been developed by CWCL. This company was founded by Mark Watt (Ex-Cadenhead) and David Stirk (Ex-The Creative Whisky Company), good friends who have been active in the industry for a long time. A Stirk is a name for a Young Cow and we all know Watt as related to Electricity. Each of the two has selected 3 casks for this series. It's a well-hidden secret as to what distilleries form part of this Blend. North British (Grain) and the Edrington Group that a.o. owns the Single Malt Distilleries Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes have been mentioned as possible candidates. In any case I do believe that this Blend contains a little more Malt than the usual 30%.

Good initiative by Mark and David. No Caramel, no Chill-Filtration and a blend that is better than today's average Blended Whisky. And sold at an acceptable Price level when considered its age. You know I'm Dutch by birth so there's always gonna be a But. In this case I think the relatively low ABV does not do justice to the Blend. At 46% this would have been much better. It would be a bit more expensive of course but I would gladly pay the extra bucks. In any case I look forward to try more of these series if I can find them.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           April 28, 2023

Cadenhead Shop, Campbeltown

Johnnie Walker Black Sherry Finish

“Black Is Not Black”

Whisky Review # 986

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Brand: Johnnie Walker Black Sherry Finish
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Probably a mix of mostly Ex-Bourbon casks & some Sherried Wood

Finish: Casks seasoned with Sherry from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 25-35 (April 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍
Buying Advice: 👍 if you are looking for a Sweeter and less Smoky Black Label

Colour: Amber with shades of Red and Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

Sweet and Pleasant but even less Smoky than the standard Black. The Grain Alcohol remains dominant but the Sherry influence is clear with Dark Berries, Dried Fruits and Nuts.

Main Aromas:

Grain Alcohol, Toasted Grain, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Grass and Straw, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Plums, Apricots and Figs, Dark Berries & Cherries, Orange Peel, Mixed Nuts and Nut Shells, Dark Chocolate, Earthy Peat, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Pepper.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Sweet Barley, Honey, Vanilla, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, Rum, Dusty Track, Dark Chocolate, Smoke, Ginger, Aniseed, Tobacco and hints of Licorice and Ashes.

Cardhu Distillery

Palate:

Despite the Sweet influence of the Sherried casks, this JW Blend can't hide the fact that the principal component is Grain Whisky. It's a pity that no one, at least in an official way, has tested a blend with a 50/50 Grain/Malt content and an ABV of 43%. That might be a stunner! As it is the Palate basically follows the Nose with a mix of Dried Fruit, Nuts, Spices and Grain.

Main Flavours:

Grain Alcohol, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Prunes, Dates, Figs, Apricots, Raisins and Prunes, Cherry-Flavored Cough Syrup, Mixed Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Ginger and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Honey, Red Berries, Green Vegetables, Dusty Track, Earthy Peat, Smoke, Ashes, Tobacco, Cardamom, Licorice, Espresso and Menthol.

 

Cameronbridge Grain Distillery

Finish:

Short/Middle Long with a slightly Sharp Grain Alcohol Kick. Mostly Sweet but with a little Bitterness towards the Medium Dry/Dry end. I also find Grain Alcohol, Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Dried Fruit like Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Dates & Figs, Cherry-Flavored Cough Syrup, Dark Chocolate, Mixed Nuts, Herbs, Dusty Road, Earthy Peat, Smoke, Ashes, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cardamon, Dusty Oak, Herbs and Espresso.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and although the Blend becomes dangerously easy to drink, you also miss most of the Aromas and Flavors. But in all honesty, this Blend is not interesting enough as a sipping Whisky. It's nice on the Rocks though.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion:

Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish is made with Grain Whisky from Lowland Distillery Cameronbridge and Single Malts from a/o Cardhu, Clynelish, Glenkinchie and Caol Ila.

It's not a bad Blend and a good Start for beginning Whisky Drinkers that want to explore the Smoky side but in an easy way. The best way to enjoy this Blend is over Ice. The standard Black is still my to-go-to Blend because of its good Price/Quality ratio. I like it better than this Sherry Finish as it presents a bit more Smoke & Peat from Caol Ila. But in case you prefer it a bit more Sweet & less Smoky, this Sherry Finish might just be the Blend for you.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           April 12, 2023

Caol Ila

Grant's Triple Wood

“Mixed Emotions”

Whisky Review # 984

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Bottled and Produced By: William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd., Dufftown

Brand: Grant's Triple Wood
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Bottling Serie: Stand Fast

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Mix of American Oak, Virgin Oak and Bourbon Re-Fill Casks

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 10-15 (March 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 It's quite cheap indeed
Buying Advice: 😐 Not good enough for sipping but okay on the Rocks or mixed

Colour: Golden with shades of Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

The typical Sweet smell of relatively cheap Blended Whisky. It's driven by Grain Alcohol, Caramel and musty Re-Fill casks. It's on the Thin side, Young and slightly Hot. Cheap Slivovitz come to mind.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Grain Alcohol, Toast and Margarine, Caramel, Toffee, Straw, Musty Casks & Sawdust, Artificially-Flavored Candies (Green Apple, Cherry, Orange & Pineapple), Pepper, Menthol and Cinnamon.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts (Sultanas, Raisins, Walnuts), Cooked Vegetables, Compost, Insect Killer with Lemon Aroma, Nutmeg and Charred Oak.

Girvan Grain Distillery

Palate:

Young, Thin and a little Sharp. A mix of Sweet and Bitter notes with a pinch of Salt for good measure. This is Whisky for drinking and not for sipping.

Main Flavours:

Grain Alcohol, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Artificially-Flavored Candies (See Nose), Oak Char and Sawdust, Pepper, Menthol, Nutmeg and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Honey, Brown Sugar, Banana, Lemon, Dried Herbs, Sultanas, Slivovitz, White Chocolate, Earth, Tobacco and Cinnamon.

Kininvie Distillery

Finish:

Thin, Short and a little Hot. Sugary Sweet at first but with a light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Grain Alcohol, Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Sugar, Marshmallow, Honey, Artificially-flavored Candies (See Nose), Musty Casks and Char, Earth, Straw, Sultanas, Slivovitz, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Very faint hint of Horse Saddles. 

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Blend. The best way to enjoy this Blend is on the Rocks or as a basis for a mixed drink, for instance with Coca Cola.

Rating: 5.5 (*****1/2)

Nose: 6 - Taste: 5.5 - Finish: 5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Marginally Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good, albeit a little Thin.

Conclusion:

This Triple Wood replaces the Family Reserve as Grant's main Blended Whisky. The Blend most likely contains Girvan Grain Whisky and Malt Whisky from Glenfiddich, Kininvie and perhaps a drop of Balvenie.

I have tasted lots of cheap Blends in the meantime and this is certainly not the worst one. But it's still Young, Thin, Hot and without convincing Aromas & Flavors. Therefore it's not good enough as a sipping whisky but it's not bad on the Rocks or in mixed drinks. I prefer this Grant's over JW Red.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        March 29, 2023

Glenfiddich Distillery

Johnnie Walker XR 21

”This Blend Misses the X(R) Factor”

Whisky Review # 965

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker XR 21 (Legacy Blend)

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 21 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Unknown - My guess: (Refill) Ex-Bourbon casks & some Sherried Wood 
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 100-140 (October 2022)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 😐 Very nice presentation but too Thin and heavy on Grain

Color:

Dark Amber with shades of Brown and Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Thin arrival. It's almost a crime to bottle a 21 Year old high-end Blended Whisky at 40%. I understand it from a financial point of view but that's all. Such a shame! I also get lots of Grain Alcohol so I would guess that the Grain to Malt ratio is likely to be in the range of 70/30%. The Nose is mostly Sweet but I get a few Sour and Salty notes as well. The Sherry casks are there but are drowned somewhat in the sea of Grain. Main drivers are Caramel, (Dried) Dark Fruit, Honey and Spices with some Smoke and Peat in the background.

 

Main Aromas:

Grain Alcohol, Toasted Malt, Buttered Toast, Honey, Salted Caramel, Dark Red Fruit like Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots, Sultanas, Apples & Plums, Distant Campfire Smoke, Orange Marmalade, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Cloves.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Demerara Sugar, Nougat, Straw, Earthy Peat, Lemon, Canned Peach, Polished Leather Upholstery, Cigar Ashes, Tobacco, Coconut, Dark Chocolate, Licorice Pepper, Nutmeg and Cardamom.

Mortlach

Palate:

Thin delivery. The slightly Harsh Grain Alcohol rules. The Palate basically follows the Nose with Sweet Dried Fruit, Salted Caramel and slightly Sour Berries.

Main Flavours:

Grain Alcohol, Toasted Malt, Salted Caramel, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums and Apricots, Orange Marmalade, Smoke from a distant fire, Peat, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Nectarine, Lemon, Toasted Nuts, Strong Black Tea, Cranberry, Gooseberry, Dark Cherries, Tobacco, Burnt Toast/Herbs, Polished Leather Upholstery, Ginger and Cloves.

Port Dundas

Finish:

Short/Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet & Medium-Dry. The Grain Alcohol is slightly Harsh. I find Grain Alcohol, Burnt Toast, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins & Apricots, Dark Honey, Distant Campfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Dusty Oak, Burnt Herbs, Tobacco, Polished Wood, Toasted Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Strong Black Tea, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Menthol and Licorice.    

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Blend. It's already too Thin as presented.

Rating: 84.5 - Stars on a 1-10 scale: 7 (*******)

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note does not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. It would have been much easier if I would have chosen a simple 1-10 rating since the beginning but after having reviewed 950 whiskies it would not be wise to change the system now. I will however from now on add stars on the 1-10 scale so you will have a better idea of what I thought of the whisky reviewed. And I'm planning to only use the 1-10 scale as of January 1, 2023. Please feel free to comment!

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but too Thin

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good but I still prefer JW Black

Conclusion:

This Blend is made by the current JW Master Blender Jim Beveridge in honour of the late JW Master Blender Alexander Walker II who received a knighthood from King George V in 1920. The Blend is based on Sir Alexander's hand-written notes. It is produced in three subsequent steps. In step 1, quality casks of Port Dundas Grain Whisky are married. In step two, mature whiskies from Ex-Bourbon casks are added to enhance the core flavours. In step 3, mature Single Malts are added adding Fruit and Malt. These Single Malts are said to include Mortlach, Cardhu, Caol Ila and even a few drops of the old demolished Brora distillery.

I can't help but feel that the XR is all about marketing again. It comes in a beautiful heavy bottle and a nice cask. I can imagine that people see this bottle in the Travel Retail shops and go "Wow, this must be great". But once again we are tricked by appearances. The XR is a good Blend but is way too expensive for what it offers. One of the main reasons is the 40% ABV. That simply does not do justice to the mature Malts that are included in the Blend. At this price level the Malt content could and should have been raised to around 40%, thus improving the overal balance Vs. the slightly Sharp Port Dundas Grain Alcohol. The presentation is really beautiful but the contents leave much to be desired. Like Amy Winehouse I'm going Back to Black that presents a much better P/Q ratio! 

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         October 6, 2022

Cardhu