Johnnie Walker Green Label

ReviewsScotchJohnnie WalkerBlended Scotch

Jan 21

All Johnnie Walker products have at least some peat and/or smoke in them - Green Label is a little different. Johnnie Walker Green Label is made with a higher percentage of peated malt, mostly from Islay, than its other labels (the Island Green label is even higher - that could be all Islay for all I know, but I look forward to asking!).

I got to try this pour blind as part of The 2020 Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year flight. In an odd twist, the majority of the six drams were peated (maybe there’s a peat bias in the UK). I wouldn’t have picked this out as a Johnnie Walker release - I associate their blending with balance, and while this didn’t blow my mouth out with peat, it was clear that the peat was going to keep building. I might like this in a year or so when I fully join the peat bandwagon (seriously - I wouldn’t bet against that), but for now it’s just a little too much.

Johnnie Walker Green Label: Specs

Classification: Blended Scotch Whisky

Origin: Johnnie Walker

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley, high percentage peated

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 15 Years Old

Location: Scotland

Johnnie Walker Green Label Price: $60 (MSRP)

Official Website

Johnnie Walker Green Label Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Golden straw. Thin rims and quick legs.

Nose: Very slight smoke, not clearly peaty at first. Pineapple acidity - pineapple caramelized on the grill, more toasty than overtly sweet.

Palate: The slight smoke is still there, but quite mild. Malted character comes through well and pumps up the smoke that’s clinging to my top palate and teeth. Mouthfeel is light, but super coating - the smoke clings more than the sweetness. I could see this being a Compass Box blend (remember - I was tasting this blind).

Finish: Finish allows peat to build but remains pleasant. An almond nuttiness joins the party as the smoke builds.

Overall: I like this, but it feels like the peat is continuing to build past where it should be. Curious what this turns out to be.

Final Rating: 6.2

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)