If you’re a whiskey drinker, you have undoubtedly heard of the Johnnie Walker brand and may have even tried a few different labels from the distillery.
With over half a dozen labels, there are a lot of Johnnie Walker whiskeys to try. But which ones are the best?
We tried a lot of Johnnie Walker’s whiskeys and reviewed five of the best ones for you.
Let’s get started!
Johnnie Walker: Blue Label
- Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
- Nose: Honey, Spice, Vanilla
- Palate: Dried Fruit, Caramel, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate
- Finish: Smoky Oak, Hazelnut, Honey
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the distillery’s top-tier label. In fact, JW’s standards for this whiskey are so high that only 1 in 10,000 casks pass the test to be Blue Label whiskey.
This whiskey is inspired by the 1867 Old Highland Whiskey crafted by master distiller Alexander Walker. Johnnie Walker released their Blue Label whiskey in 1992, and it was an instant favorite among whiskey connoisseurs.
It’s an 80-proof blended whiskey with a soft, golden caramel color that is just slightly darker than the color of Johnnie Walker’s Red Label whiskey.
Blue Label offers mellow aromas of honey, spice, and vanilla with a subtle oak finish from the cask.
The taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label starts with notes of dried fruit and rich caramel and hints of vanilla and dark chocolate. It finishes with smoky flavors of oak, hazelnut, and just a hint of sweetness reminiscent of honey.
Blue Label is one of the smoothest, most gentle whiskeys you will ever experience. Johnnie Walker recommends you drink their Blue Label whiskey neat to experience its flavors’ subtle complexities.
Johnnie Walker: Gold Label
- Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
- Nose: Honey, Caramel, Nutmeg, Peat
- Palate: Honey, Malt, Smoke, Florals
- Finish: Caramel, Smoke
Initially released in 1920 as a celebration of Johnnie Walker’s 100-year birthday, Johnnie Walker Gold Label is a single malt whiskey aged 18 years.
Johnnie Walker Gold Label comes from the west coast highlands of Scotland, which infuses the whiskey with a smokey peat essence. Peat can sometimes scare away drinkers who dislike the intense flavor, but Gold Label is actually quite sweet.
The scent of Johnnie Walker’s Gold Label consists of honey, rich caramel, and a hint of nutmeg. Some drinkers can detect an odor of ethanol, but it doesn’t linger or overwhelm.
The flavor profile of Johnnie Walker Gold Label opens with a large helping of sweet honey before fading into a more subtle malt and smoke flavor. There are also lingering hints of flowers and spicy vanilla that fade in and out as you drink.
This whiskey finishes with a delicious caramel smoke, and the color of Gold Label is rich amber.
Gold Label is a mid-tier whiskey that is smooth and sweet. The best way to drink Gold Label is neat or with a few drops of distilled water that help release additional flavor notes.
Johnnie Walker: Green Label
- Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
- Nose: Espresso, Chocolate, Oak, Smoke
- Palate: Malt, Black Pepper, Grass, Dates, Coffee
- Finish: Peat, Nuts
The brand released Johnnie Walker Green Label in 1997 as Johnnie Walker Pure Malt 15 yo and then renamed it Green Label in 2004. It is a blended malt whiskey that Johnnie Walker ages for 15 years.
Green Label is an unusual whiskey made of a blend of several single malt whiskeys, which earns it the moniker of being an “unofficial single malt.”
The aroma of Johnnie Walker Green Label is espresso and chocolate with a hint of the oak cask and smoke.
Sipping on Green Label leaves sweet and spicy flavors on the tongue. The profile starts with malt, black pepper, and green grasses before developing flavors of walnuts, dates, and more coffee.
The finish of Green Label is mellow and smooth with notes of smokey peat. Drink Green Label with a few drops of water for the best overall experience.
Johnnie Walker: Black Label
- Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
- Nose: Peat, Citrus, Vanilla
- Palate: Oak, Vanilla, Orange Zest, Peat, Toffee
- Finish: Peat, Black Pepper, Dried Fruit
If you have a sweet tooth, Johnnie Walker Black Label is an excellent blend of malt and grain whiskeys aged 12 years.
Black Label offers smokey peat and mellow sweetness. It starts with scent notes of citrus and spicy vanilla, but there are also notes of caramel.
A mildly sweet and smoky flavor reminiscent of oak and vanilla dominates Johnnie Walker’s Black Label’s flavor profile. There are also fantastic tasting notes of orange zest, peat, and toffee.
The whiskey finishes with smokey peat, black pepper, and dried fruit.
Black Label is an excellent choice for whiskey cocktails or on the rocks and ice cold.
Johnnie Walker: Aged 18 Years
- Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
- Nose: Sweet Fruits, Caramel, Toffee, Dark Chocolate
- Palate: Citrus, Spice, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon
- Finish: Smoke, Spice
Originally called Johnnie Walker Platinum, this whiskey was rebranded as Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years. It is a complex, intense blended whiskey that rivals Blue Label in quality (and price).
The nose of this whiskey is rich with sweet fruits, silky caramel, toffee, and dark chocolate.
Sipping on this whiskey leaves a delicious flavor on the palate. It starts with citrus and spice notes before settling into notes of vanilla and almonds. Lingering notes of dark chocolate and cinnamon round out the flavor.
The finishing notes of smoke and spice help complete the complex flavor of Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years.
This whiskey features an attractive light amber color, and the feel of the whiskey is smoother than the Gold or Green Label whiskeys.
Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years is excellent when you add a few drops of water to open the flavor profile, but our standard go-to is to pour it over the rocks and enjoy it slowly.
