Scotch

The Ultimate Review: Johnnie Walker Lowlands Origin

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OVERALL
RATING

7

The Ultimate Review: Johnnie Walker Lowlands Origin

Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin is a limited-edition blend showcasing the Lowland region’s light, floral character.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
Part of the Johnnie Walker Black Label Origin series this is the only one to include grain with the rest of the range being blended malts. Highlighting and made exclusively with Lowland malt and grain whisky including Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge.
Appearance:
A burnished copper colour which leaves small beads when swirled around the glass.
Nose:
An interesting almost lactic aroma which is a mix of melted blue cheese and earthy mushrooms as first. Slightly fusty with wet oak and freshly opened milk chocolate Toblerone.
Palate:
The Emmental cheese note follows on the palete with a more nutty edge and a sweetness like white chocolate or raspberry ripple ice cream. There is a slightly burnt toffee caramel hint which contradicts with a quite powerful ginger kick in the back of the throat.
Finish:
The finish itself is quite short leaving a dry pepper spice.
Comments:
This is a really interesting side step to the standard Johnnie Walker Black Label with some more unique notes in the balance.

TL;DR 

Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin is a limited-edition blend showcasing the Lowland region’s light, floral character. Aged 12 years and featuring whiskies from Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge, it was released in 2019 for travel retail. 

While not widely awarded or reviewed, it’s praised for its smooth simplicity and serves as an approachable introduction to Lowland whisky. Critics note it’s easy-drinking but lacks complexity. Best enjoyed neat, with water, or lightly mixed, it reflects the refined, subtle style of Lowland scotch.

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What Is Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin? 

Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin is a limited-edition blended scotch whisky that showcases the distinctive characteristics of Scotland’s Lowland region. Part of the Black Label Origin Series, this expression combines both single malt and grain whiskies exclusively from the Lowlands, notably featuring malts from Glenkinchie and grain whisky from Cameronbridge Distillery. Like the standard Black Label, the whisky is aged for at least 12 years before bottling. 

How Good Is Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin?

As with many limited-edition Johnnie Walker expressions, the 12 Year Old Black Label Lowlands Origin has not won any notable awards. There is also a very limited number of reviews for Black Label Lowlands Origin. 

The Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin was released as a travel retail limited-edition in 2019, perhaps explaining the lack of results and awards for this expression. Is this a blended scotch that you will just have to try for yourself? 

How Much Is Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin? 

Emphasizing the rarity of this expression, Black Label Lowlands Origin is not available at online retail in the U.S. or the UK at the time of writing. As such, if you would like to acquire a bottle, I would suggest keeping an eye on the whisky auctions. The expression currently sells for between £30 and £70 at auction in the UK. 

Context Is Key

Credit: Hamilton

Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin takes up a specific place in the market along with other Origin expressions. These whiskies are aimed primarily at scotch whisky drinkers wishing to explore the nuances of each whisky region. This is mirrored by the whisky’s availability at travel retail. In essence, this doesn’t cater to the masses, but rather to Johnnie Walker fans, avid travelers, or whisky fans wishing to learn more about the profile of the Scottish Lowlands. 

A strong analogy for Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old Black Label Lowlands Origin might be the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical watch. Both represent dependable, regionally inspired craftsmanship designed to reflect their roots. The Hamilton Khaki Field, with its straightforward functionality and understated charm, perfectly embodies the spirit of the Lowlands: floral, light, and approachable.

Like the Hamilton, Lowlands Origin isn’t trying to wow with complexity or grandeur – it is after all an extension of the Black Label range – it’s all about capturing the subtlety and finesse of its heritage. This whisky is perfect for those who enjoy simplicity done exceptionally well, without overthinking it. It also serves as a great starting point for exploring the diversity of Scotland’s whisky regions. 

What Do The Reviews Say? 

Serge Valentin – WhiskyFun 

As stated above, this expression has not been widely reviewed. Luckily, though, Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun has had a taste. Valentin is one of the world’s most respected whisky reviewers, and can always be counted upon for honest assessments. 

Awarding the whisky 75 points, he said: “A fair blend that may, indeed, reproduce the current average profile of the Lowlands if you take the few active malts and the various grain distilleries into account. And, agreed, not quite the new Lowland cats such as Daftmill. Very light, Black Label without much smoke isn’t exactly Black Label, is it?”

John – Malt-Review

The mononymous John on Malt-Review sampled the Black Label Lowlands Origin in November 2020. Scoring it 5/10, he said: “The Lowland Origin is sweeter and simpler [than the Speyside Origins]. This makes me think this is better to enjoy when you’re having a lazy day and just want something simple and easy to drink. Smelling this makes me reminisce of going to some candy shops in LA where you get to pick what kind of confectioneries an apple is dunked in and what topping you add. Tasting this makes me think of eating a Snickers bar but the chocolate is dialed down.” 

He also notes that he would have awarded the whisky a 6/10 if it had been around the $30 mark. 

How To Drink Johnnie Walker Black Label Lowlands Origin 

How you drink your Lowlands Origin whisky entirely depends on what you would like to get out of it. If you are drinking it to appreciate the nuances of the Lowland style, then I would recommend drinking it neat, with a splash of water, or on the rocks. This will allow the whisky to open up, meaning that you can explore the full spectrum of flavors. 

If you are enjoying this in a cocktail, perhaps keep the mixers to a minimum, so that you can still seek out those gentle flavors. Amazon suggests a Heather Honey Old Fashioned. 

What Is Lowland Whisky Like? 

Lowland whiskies from Scotland are known for their light, delicate, and approachable character, often described as the most refined and subtle of the Scotch whisky regions. Typically unpeated, these whiskies feature soft, floral, and grassy notes, with hints of citrus, fresh herbs, and sweet vanilla. The region’s whiskies are often triple-distilled (Auchentoshan loves triple distillation), enhancing their smoothness and clean finish, and making them highly accessible to newcomers. 

This gentle style contrasts with the heavier, more robust profiles of Highland and Islay whiskies. Prominent distilleries like Glenkinchie and Auchentoshan embody this style, producing whiskies that are elegant, mellow, and perfect for easy sipping or aperitifs.

Pete "Jeff Whisky" Jeffery

Based in the South West of the UK, Jeff brings an irreverent and laid-back approach to whisky reviewing, dispelling any notions of snobbery surrounding the spirit. With a genuine enthusiasm for exceptional drams, he often embraces the whimsical side of whisky. Jeff's tongue-in-cheek whisky content has earned him recognition in the Malt Whisky Yearbook, and he has contributed articles and reviews to numerous whisky platforms.

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