Whisky Review: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

Sweet but flat. The whisky feels weak and watered down, almost as though ice were melted into it. Sweet vanilla, buttered corn, light amount of charred oak. There are very subtle wisps of smoke in the finish; the burn is quick and unsatisfying, leaving you with lingering flavors of butterscotch candy. Conclusion: I find Gold Label Reserve to be the most frustrating of all the standard Label releases from Johnnie Walker. The discontinuation of the previous 18-year-old Gold Label and subsequent introduction of Platinum have rendered this release somewhat redundant. Taking a relatively short step up the ladder to Platinum, or – as I would highly recommend – down to Green Label would provide a much more enjoyable and intriguing experience. Johnnie Walker fans and completists are probably the most likely audience for Gold Label Reserve, as it is doubtful that the dram would make converts out of more casual whisky sippers. For my money, the blend drinks like a mixer. This becomes problematic when paired with a premium price point. The simple fact of the matter is that there is nothing Gold Label Reserve does well that other Walker Labels do not do better. FINAL SCORE: 80/100