Johnnie Walker Red Label has long been one of the most widely poured blended Scotch whiskies, known for its spicy, smoky character and its place in a simple highball. It is also brilliantly affordable, often under £25 in the UK.
Popular it may be, but Johnnie Walker Red Label now has company. In March 2026, Diageo announced Johnnie Walker Red Soul, the first global innovation under the Red Label banner, with a sweeter style built on vanilla and toffee fudge and no smoke.
So what exactly is Red Soul, and should you drink it the same way you would Red Label, or does a sweeter whisky call for a different approach?
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READ THE STORYWhat Is Johnnie Walker Red Soul?
Johnnie Walker Red Soul is a blended Scotch bottled at 40% ABV with no age statement, created by Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker and her team as a new take on the Red Label style.
Walker explained her approach when the whisky launched: “With Red Soul, I wanted to explore a different expression of that spirit. We kept the lively, approachable core that defines Red Label, but chose to dial up the vibrant vanilla sweetness and smoothness, deliberately stepping away from smoky notes to create something brighter.”
The blend is made predominantly from whiskies matured in first-fill American oak casks, with Johnnie Walker’s tasting notes picking out vanilla, toffee fudge, and oak, followed by a creamy finish. Walker described the result as a whisky that “feels open and incredibly versatile,” adding that it “shines in simple serves and is perfectly suited to relaxed, spontaneous times with friends.”
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For more on the launch, take a look at the five things you should know about Johnnie Walker Red Soul.
How Should You Drink Johnnie Walker Red Soul?
Most of the official guidance points toward a long drink, but it’s still worth trying Red Soul on its own first. It is bold, quite sharp, and the sweetness hits you right away. Certainly an attention grabber, much like its older sibling. However, the finish is short, which is part of why it works so well in long drinks.
A neat pour is a good way to get to know the vanilla and fudge flavors, and if the alcohol feels a little sharp, a few drops of water should be plenty at 40% ABV. Johnnie Walker also suggests serving it over ice, and a single large cube will keep the drink cold while diluting it slowly.
Much like Red Label, a highball is where Red Soul is most at home. Johnnie Walker recommends using 50ml of Johnnie Walker Red Soul topped with lemonade, a pinch of sea salt, and a strawberry garnish.
Salt might seem a bit strange, but as Calvin Politi of the Paris bar Little Red Door told PUNCH, “Low concentration salt actually helps to control or reduce bitter flavors, but amplifies sweet and sour.”
Other Mixers for Red Soul
If lemonade isn’t your thing, the Red Soul & Cola uses 45ml of whisky with zero-sugar cola, sea salt, and a lime twist, and a zero-sugar mixer makes sense alongside a whisky with this much vanilla sweetness. For something drier, the Red Soul & Soda pairs 45ml of whisky with soda water, two dashes of orange bitters, sea salt, and an orange twist.
Ginger ale isn’t one of the official serves, but Danish retailer Rasch Vin & Spiritus lists it as a good match for Red Soul, and it’s the classic mixer for Red Label.
Whichever mixer you choose, keep an eye on the sugar, since a full-sugar mixer and a fruity garnish on top of an already sweet whisky can quickly make the drink taste more like a soda than a whisky highball.
Johnnie Walker Red Soul or Johnnie Walker Red Label?
Both whiskies are bottled at 40% ABV and sell for roughly the same price in the UK, so the choice mostly comes down to flavor. Diageo describes Red Label as having a “spicier, smokier, distillery-driven style,” whereas Red Soul replaces the smoke with vanilla and fudge.
John Williams, global whiskey director at Diageo, said: “One of the things that makes Johnnie Walker a global leader is our ability to offer choice at every price point and respond to the evolving needs of consumers, whether they are whisky lovers or totally new to the category.”
He added that although Red Label has been “recruiting new whisky drinkers,” for some “it’s still not always considered a drink that feels easy and social,” and he described Red Soul as “a great choice for those looking for a quality spirit at a more affordable price point.”
If you enjoy the spice and smoke of a Red Label and ginger ale, there’s no real reason to switch. Red Soul is the better pick if you prefer a sweeter, smoke-free whisky for lemonade or cola, or if you’re buying for someone new to Scotch.
Readers in the US will have to stick with Red Label for now, as Red Soul hasn’t launched there yet.
Occasions and Food Pairings
Johnnie Walker has positioned Red Soul for “late afternoon and early evening moments”. Even so, the highball serves work just as well for parties and pre-dinner drinks.
As for food, salty snacks such as salted nuts, chips, popcorn, or charcuterie are a natural match for a whisky the brand already serves with a pinch of sea salt. You could also try desserts with a bit of sharpness, like apple tarts or berry desserts. With very sugary desserts, though, a sweet highball can make the pairing feel heavy, so save those for a neat pour or a soda serve instead.
The cola and ginger ale highballs are a good match for grilled meats or spicy food.
So, How Should You Pour Johnnie Walker Red Soul?
Red Soul works best as a long drink, so pour 50ml over ice, top it with lemon-lime soda or zero-sugar cola, and finish it with a pinch of flaky sea salt and a citrus twist.
If you’re still choosing your next bottle, take a look at our beginner’s guide to Johnnie Walker, or see how to drink Johnnie Walker Black if you’re ready to move up the range.
Have you tried Red Soul yet, and how do you like to drink it? Let us know in the comments.
