It is no secret that I love Johnnie Walker Black Label, it’s a very dependable dram and a great performer for its price. So when our friends over at Diageo Indonesia said they are going to launch a sherry edition of Black Label, I begged them to send me a sample and here I am dissecting it.
Nowadays we can’t deny that sherry casks are dominating the market. It is robust and rich, and holds itself very well with Asian food and is the trend to finish blends in ex sherry casks. Interestingly this blend is not finished in sherry casks, it is blended with higher proportion of ex-sherry matured malts. I can’t wait to try this…
Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Edition – 40%
Tasting Notes
Nose: I expect the familiar smoke of Black Label, but instead finds a clean, fresh berries note, caramel and vanilla then clove and spices develop. Very very subtle smoke and a touch of ginger, youthful whisky notes. If I tried this blind, I wouldn’t even guess this is a Black Label. 78/100
Palate: Very nice creamy texture, balanced and clean, strawberries and vanilla. Reminds me of Alpenliebe strawberry candies, but with a peppery kick, excellent palate 90/100
Finish: A long, lingering spicy finish, now the smoke kicks in, quite drying (sherry influence?). 83/100
Afterthought: I’m going to run to the store and stock up on these when they release it in Indonesia. Great everyday drinker. Not exactly as smoky as I hope it’d be, and not one to nose and mull over the evening, but what a great palate whether you sip it neat or have it on the rocks.
It’s not a megalomaniac, superstar whisky that demands your full evening’s worth of attention, but it does its job well anytime, anywhere and to me, that embodies the spirit of the Black Label.
I score it: 84/100
Cheers from the Whiskyhobo
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