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Scotch Whisky Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Johnnie Walker Red Label is pretty much what you expect—affordable and accessible, and that's a big part of why it’s become a global favorite.

OVERALL RATING

5
$18
  • Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in whisky retail and online whisky education. Best known for hosting Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, he is dedicated to making whisky accessible and enjoyable by cutting through jargon and complexity.
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Tasting Notes

About:

The entry level bottle to the Johnnie Walker range of whiskies. Red Label was first launched in 1906 under the name ‘Walker’s Special Old Highland’ – since then, many more labels have been introduced and sourcing the best whiskies available for Red Label became less of a focus. Combining with all of the Johnnie Walker range, Red Label helps to make up the 22 million 9 litre cases sold of Johnnie Walker across the globe. We’ve no idea what the age range for this blend could be, no doubt it changes per batch unlike Johnnie Walker Black Label (12 Years Old), Johnnie Walker Green Label (15 Years Old) and Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old. As a result, Red Label makes for a varied blend of around 35 whiskies from across Diageo’s portfolio of styles. Being made up of mostly grain with some malt content, Red Label’s price and availability across the world make it a strong go-to for many whisky consumers across the globe.
Appearance:
Gold
Nose:
A little heavier on the grain whisky when compared to other bottles in the range. It is soft and sweet, but there is an element of relatively young, weaker cask influenced whiskies in this.

You get sweetness from the grain and some of the younger Highland and Speyside malts used in this. The more interesting note is something coming across as a little vegetal but very distantly smoky. I assumed the younger the peated whisky they used would give it more smoke, but it’s quite gentle.

Caol Ila being the biggest distillery on Islay, I’m guessing that is where this note is coming from, possibly with some Talisker, too.

A feint whiff of caramel lingering in the back behind this more youthful notes.
Palate:
You do taste the youthful side of it. It’s quite amazing to compare Red and Black Label side by side, it’s like two different styles of whisky. This is very direct with more of those youth driven profiles. It’s gristy, malty and a little short when it comes to those flavours sticking around.

The smoke plays an interesting part, it’s less vegetal now and just has a small appearance as you move it around your mouth. It makes a rather quick exit afterwards.

The end of the taste is all about these softly sweet, caramel style flavours that are mixed in with some spirit spice.
Finish:
Relatively short and nothing to get you screaming about, but it does exactly what it should with the amount you pay for it. A little gristy and malty again with that vegetal note making a brief appearance.
Comments:
It’s a very simple, price driven whisky in the most global way possible. I’m not a fan of it when compared to Black Label, I’d always pay the extra to get that instead.

However, when you’re strapped for cash or you’re just wanting a cheaper whisky to put into mixed drinks, this is an ideal candidate for all of that. It’s never expensive, it’s always available, the look and branding of it is so iconic across the globe. It’s a no-brainer when it comes to wanting something to pour and just not think about.

If you’re a mixed drink fan then this with ginger beer or cola is an easy way to wind down after a long, tough or very good day. One thing I do wish Johnnie Walker would do with this is make a special release of it to thrill whisky nerds with. Imagine an older or throwback release that replicates what the original batches would have tasted like from over a century ago. That could be a pretty cool way to get people talking as well as buying Red Label across the globe.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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