"Party Time"
Country: Scotland
Brand: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Date: 12/02/2014
Colour: Light Amber
Nose: There's a young feeling to the Nose. I find Grains, Heather and Honey, Toffee and Caramel, Oak, a little Sherry, a touch of Sulphur of the Vegetative type, Floral, Vegetable and Earthy tones, Straw, Banana Cake, Apple Pie with Raisins, Malt, Citrus Peel, a little Perfume and a pinch of Nutmeg. It's a bit of everything but nothing is really convincing. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.
Taste: The Delivery is quite Thin and Watery. Nothing to get excited about. I find Honey, Toffee/Butterscotch, Wax, Citrus Peel, Dried Fruits, light Oak, Grain and light Spices.
Finish: Rather Short and Disappointing. Sweet at first, Dry later on. A bit of Toffee, Honey, Orange Peel, Pepper, Raisins, Wax and Oak.
The Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve does not accept Water very well. It's best enjoyed over a little Ice.
Rating: 79.5
Nose: 20.5 – Taste: 19.5 – Finish: 19.5 – Overall: 20
The New Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve
General Remarks: The Johnnie Walker Brand is owned since 1997 by the Diageo Group. The Gold Label Reserve was released in 2012/2013 and was crafted by the current JW Master Blender Jim Beveridge to celebrate almost 200 Years of the JW Blends. At the heart of this Blend lies Clynelish. This distillery uses Water from the Kildonan Hills were Gold was found in 1868. The new Gold Reserve is supposed to replace the old Gold Label 18 Years that has been discontinued. The Blend sells at between 65 and 90 US Dollars, quite expensive for a NAS Blend. Nice modern bottle though!
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay
Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good
Conclusion: Quite disappointing. At this price level I would simply expect a better Blend. The Nose is okay but not really exciting. On the Palate and in the Finish, the Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve is easily drinkable but Thin, Boring and Bland. It's impossible to compare this NAS Gold Label Reserve to the old Gold Label 18 years although their prices are quite similar! The old Gold Label was meant to be appreciated, perhaps on a special occasion, like the Green and the Blue. The new Gold Reserve screams " Take Me, I'm Easy To Drink" and "It's Party Time" and clearly aims at a different and younger public. At a lower cost of production (younger whiskies) and with more or less the same sales price this means good business! At least in the short term. But many Whisky fans, including me, miss the Old Comfortable Gold and the Vatted Quality Green!
Jan van den Ende February 2014
The Old Johnnie Walker Gold Label
"I Miss You"
