A Grocer With An Idea
Even though his main trade was selling groceries, over time he became well known as the go-to supplier of tea, fine wines, and spirits. He sold all kinds of alcohol, including rum, brandy, and gin, but it was his own private label whiskey that gained him recognition in the region. Most shop owners of the day stocked single malts, with inconsistent taste and texture. Mr. Walker, being a savvy businessman, made his whiskey through blending, giving him the ability to maintain good flavor quality in every bottle.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The Blue Label is the most expensive product sold under the Johnnie Walker name.
As with all of the whiskies under this brand, this is a blend of several different whiskies with different ages and from different distilleries. The packaging makes no mention of the ages combined here, being that it can cost more than $200.00, the claim sometimes made that the spirits have been sitting in the casks for up to 40 years in some cases is credible.
Johnnie Walker Red Label: Best For Those Who Love A Cocktail
The Johnnie Walker Red was renamed from the Special Old Highland Whisky, one of the two original blends from Johnnie Walker that was created in the 19th Century. It is primarily recommended as a mixing whisky, best used in cocktails.
Tasting notes
Kicking off with a classic, some would say for the wrong reasons? But were very spoiled with good, blended whisky these days. It isnt that Red Label is bad, thats subjective. But you do get what you pay for. Its an affordable, available and famous whisky for having neat, with ice, mixing, cocktails. Whatever you want. Its a grain forward style with some bright and youthful toffee notes. Hiding in the background is a small amount of smoke that could be linked to Talisker and Caol Ila the latter providing the smokiness in its big brother, Black Label.
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Johnnie Walker Whisky Prices
The definition of Scotch is strictly controlled by laws in the country, which means that it must meet certain requirements that drive up the price.
One of the most important requisites for carrying the Scotch name is that whisky must be aged in an oak cask for three or more years. This means that you wont get a budget option as you would with vodka. The cheapest of scotch whiskies cost over $20.00 for a 750 mL bottle.
As far as the price goes, the longer something has been sitting in the cask, the better it will taste, which means that these companies can charge a hefty premium for aged whisky. Johnnie Walker has a diverse range of prices, with older whiskies going for more.
Here is the list of average prices for the companys spirits:
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Type |
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Lets walk through some of the offerings at different prices ranges:
The Color Identification Didnt Come Until Much Later
Weve all knocked back a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red. Right? Well, anyway, the bottles werent labeled by color until Alexander Walker passed the business onto his sons and they started identifying the different blends this way. Johnnie Walker Blue is still the stuff you have to hide from anyone not worthy, but there are also now Gold and Platinum labels.
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Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve: Best For Those Who Keep It Sweet
Buy here from The Whisky Exchange £43.45
The Gold Label Johnnie Walker joined the core range in 1995 as the second of three expansions to the range in the 90s. It originally carried an age statement of 18 years but that was removed when the Platinum 18 Year Old was released in 2012.
Tasting notes
We get to leave smoke behind now. Peat can be a scary word for a lot of whisky drinkers and if it isnt your thing then Gold Label is the one for you. Different single malts such as Clynelish, Royal Lochnagar, Glendullan and Cardhu are in the mix here, plus many more. Honey, toffee and fudge are mixed in with orange, apple and pineapple. Cardhu is wonderfully delicate, fruity whisky. Clynelish provides texture with its classically waxy profile. Royal Lochnagar is hot cross buns in a bottle. And finally, Glendullan, the lesser-known malt in the mix loaded with apple, pear and liquorice. Part of The Singleton range and not something we see a lot of in the UK.
The Original Bottles Didnt Say Johnnie Walker Or Show Someone Strutting
Like many vintage whisky items, older Johnnie Walker bottlesfull or emptyare on sale. One seller advertises a bottle that reads John Walker and Sons, plus some legal stuff etched into the bottle about how federal law forbids sale or re-sale of this bottle. Apparently that law no longer applies? Or the seller is just badass.
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Johnnie Walker Black Label
First produced in 1909, the Johnnie Walker Black Label isamong their iconic expressions. The 12-year-old blended Scotch is made fromaround 40 whiskies and comes out with a mellow smoky note. The nose of BlackLabel has distinct aromas of winter spice and treacle with hints of whitepepper and citrus. The palate is rich, made from wood smoke, dry spice andhints of barley and cereal with creamy toffee. In addition, Black Label’spalate has a distinct herbal taste and the dram finishes off on a fruity notewith hints of sultanas and mixed peels.
It Was The Brainchild Of John Walkers Son Alexander
John Walker and Sons was plugging along just fine as a general Scottish grocery concern in the mid-1800s, until a devastating flood nearly wiped out the entire company in 1852. Following this disaster, Johns son Alexander suggested they make whisky their full-time business. They went for it, and global success soon followed. In 1876, Alexander trademarked the company name, and he came up with the plan to distribute their whisky via British ships captains, giving them a cut of all sales. In 1909, the whisky we know today as Johnnie Walker Black Label was born. By 1920 Johnnie Walker whisky was available in 120 countries.
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Johnnie Walker: The Story Behind The Brand
Johnnie Walker was the creation of a man named John Walker. A grocer in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock, John had a good head for business. At the time, most stores sold whisky in the form of single malts whose quality varied from bottle to bottle. He decided to start selling blended whiskies to offer customers a consistent product.
This proved to be a big success. And so when Johns son Alexander took over the business in 1857at the tail-end of the Industrial Revolutionhe was able to take advantage of the boom in trade and transport to engage ship captains as agents. They would take his whisky around the world and introduce the globe to Johnnie Walker.
The companys first commercial blend was called Old Highland Whisky and was launched in 1867, complete with the slanted label that is so recognisable today. In 1909, Alexanders grandsons launched two new Johnnie Walker labels: Johnnie Walker Red Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Also joining company ranks was a new Johnny Walker logo. The Striding Man, a flamboyant dandy-like figurecomplete with a top hat, monocle, and canehas since become the iconic symbol of Johnnie Walker whisky.
Today, the Johnnie Walker hefty square-shaped bottleoriginally designed to withstand sea crossingsis recognisable to anyone who knows their alcoholic libations, and an absolute staple on bartender shelves.
Is Johnnie Walker Gold Better Than Black
A conversation that comes up a lot amongst Johnnie Walker Whisky lovers. Johnnie Walker Black Label is stronger and provides that enjoyable combination of fruit, honey and zest. Johnnie Walker Gold Label on the other hand, is a lot softer. Less of a citrus taste that packs a kick, yet more of an oaky, smokey taste. So depending on your preference of Johnnie Walker Whisky the two Whiskies are contrasting in flavour yet seem to still retain that familiar Johnnie Walker Whisky taste. At Hard to Find Whisky, we stock both Johnnie Walker Gold Label and Black Label for both citrusy and smoky whisky lovers.
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Johnnie Walker Double Black Label: Best For The Heavy Smokers
Buy here from The Whisky Exchange £29.95
The Johnnie Walker Double Black was originally released for travel retail and, after a very successful launch, was released for general sale in 2011. As is common with Johnnie Walker blends, the Double Black carries no age statement instead choosing to focus on its aromas and tasting notes. The whisky included in this blend was aged in charred barrels and is predominantly from the west coast of Scotland.
Tasting notes
Like smoke? Double Black has your back. Increasing the peat and grain content, this does sweet and smoky better than most malts, let alone blended whisky. Glasses of this fit perfectly with the setting sun on a summer evening. Dying coal fires and sticky glazed BBQ notes from the west coast malts, then a soft mouthfeel of honeyed sweetness and balance from some lighter whiskies. It does turn up the smoke quite a lot, but as blends should do, its manageable and drinkable.
Introduction Of Johnnie Walker Whisky
Johnnie Walker Whisky is one of the most popular and best-selling brands of Scotch Whisky all over the world. This famous Scotch brand originated in Kilmarnock, an autonomous municipal corporation in East Ayrshire, Scotland. John Walker, a Scottish grocer, first established the brand in 1860. Johnnie Walker is now owned by Diageo plc, a London-based multinational beverage company and one of the worlds largest distiller.
Johnnie Walker was originally made from malted barley. But in the late part of the 18th century, the brand began introducing whiskies that are made from wheat and rye. Since then, Johnnie Walker has been producing good-quality whiskeys which are typically a blend of malt and grain .
This iconic square-bottled whisky is now offering famous blends in the market such as Black Label, Red Label, Gold Label, Platinum Label, and Johnnie Walker Swing. Prices may vary in different parts of the world.
If youre looking for a complete and updated price of different Johnny Walker Whisky blends, this article might be for you.
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Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky
Perfectly balanced
Johnnie Walker Black Label is a benchmark in blending excellence. Perfectly balanced whisky that brings together rich flavours to create an experience that is deep and rewarding.
It is crafted by a small team of expert whisky-makers using more than 30 of the finest single malt and grain whiskies from the four corners of Scotland, each one matured for at least 12 years.
Immerse yourself in a new world of scents and flavours!
- Rich and perfectly balanced
- Dark fruit notes, vanilla spice and smokiness
- Releasing sweet vanilla, orange zest and aromas of spice and raisins
- Layered finish with rich smoke, peat and malt
Its Current Label And Striding Man Logo Were Launched More Than A Century Ago
They both kicked off in 1909, the year that illustrator Tom Brownewho was internationally famous at the time, as well as a friend and influence on Charlie Chaplinmade a sketch on a cocktail napkin that became the now iconic Striding Man, visible on every one of the more than 130 million bottles of Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky sold annually. The customer-driven, official name change from Extra Special Old Highland Whisky to Johnnie Walker Black Label was made in 09 as well.
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Alternatives To Johnnie Walker Blue
Johnnie Walker Blue is worth it if you wont otherwise miss the cash, but whiskey lovers and professional reviewers unite in their assessment that you can get a more exciting whiskey for the same price.
If youre a whiskey or single malt aficionado, ty something else. However, theres no need to insert finding a new malt into every social scenario. Sometimes, a Blue Label is the only thing that will do, and theres no point in fighting over it, particularly if your opponent isnt a big scotch drinker.
The trick to finding an alternative is looking for a whiskey that replicates the smoothness of Blue Label but has just the right amount of interest.
Here are a few examples:
- Aberlour 12 Non-Chillfiltered
Common Recipes: What To Mix With Johnnie Walker
Frequent drinkers of Scotch will often claim that the best way to enjoy the drink is simple to sip it with nothing more than a few ice cubes inside of a glass. Nevertheless, many cocktails have been invented for Johnnie Walker, especially recommended for drinking with the relatively cheaper Red Label.
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Legalisation Of Whisky Distillation And Origins Of Whisky Production
In Scotland, the money trail followed uisge beatha, Gaelic for whisky. Distilling whisky had been legalised in 1823, leading to a proliferation in the number of brands in the market. Some were rotgut, some produced at 70-72% , but the majority were at 60-65% ABV, imbibed after cutting with water. There were a few good brands too, news of which spread by word of mouth. Arthur Bell defined a “fine whisky” as one that was sold at ~65% ABV. These were savoured after adding soda.
Vatting of whiskies within Bond Warehouses was legalised in 1853 by The Forbes-Mackenzie Act, and, with blending, the number of brands made available for sale increased overnight. During this period, Stewart and James Chivas decided to respond to their affluent customers’ demands for better whisky, by blending select malts to create a proprietary blend. The firm’s first blended Malt Scotch whisky, the Royal Glen Dee, was launched in 1854. Stewart left in 1857, making way for John and the company could now be named Chivas Brothers. In 1863, they launched a proprietary Blended Scotch whisky, a smoothly crafted blend of 10 year old malt and grain Whiskies, Royal Strathythan.
The May 8, 1890, edition of Scotland Magazine described Chivas Brothers as “undoubtedly the finest purveying business in the north of Scotland”.
Johnnie Walker Princes Street Is Now Open For Business
September 7, 2021 | Jonny McCormick
Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the new flagship home and visitor attraction of the worlds best-selling whisky, opened September 6 in the heart of Edinburgh. The new high-design venue, built inside a former luxury department store, has eight levels and is staffed with 150 people. Its expected to attract over half a million visitors in its first year, as the centerpiece of Diageos $250 million investment in scotch whisky tourism. Whisky Advocate gained a full-access tour ahead of opening day, and here is our report:
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Johnnie Walker Whisky Prices Guide 2021
Johnnie Walker is a Scotch whisky that was developed near the beginning of the 19th century. Today it is the best-selling brand of Scotch, a spirit with a relatively high number of producers due to its age and established popularity.
All Scotch whiskies are, as suggested by the name, produced in Scotland. They have to adhere to a complex web of guidelines in order to earn the name of scotch, and are divided into one of five categories depending on the ingredients used to make them, but for the most part, you can usually characterize them as being of malt or grain.
While Johnnie Walker produces a wide range of whiskies, they are a blend of both grain and malt. The grain is mostly barley, but the rules do allow for other types of grains to be fermented to make the spirit, such as rye or wheat. Malt, a mysterious word heard often in the Scotch world, just means barley that is dried using a process known as malting.
While Johnnie Walker has always been popular, its been losing some ground lately to other brands. To combat this, the brand has started to make some significant pushes in marketing. In 2018, they released special-edition Jane Walker bottle and they intend to release another later in the year on the heels of the last season of Game of Thrones.
Most Expensive Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskies
June 22, 2019 By Hitesh BhasinTagged With: Lists
Scotch whiskey has always been an investment for a collector just like a painting or an automobile. Recent years have seen a gradual rise in the of Scotch whiskey. These are available in every range with some special edition bottles garnering huge attention and expensive price tags.
Johnnie Walker is an alcoholic brand that is associated with Scotch whiskey. It was started by John Walker hence the name of the brand. Introduced in the grocery stores in the year 1820 it gradually became very popular and currently is sold in almost every country in the world. It is now opened and operated by Diageo, a world-renowned company.
Scotch whiskey has been a favorite amongst alcoholic drinkers because of its unique taste. Johnnie Walker has been one of the most popular brands as it adheres to the complex web of guidelines to perfection. The brand has paid special onus on its quality ingredients and production methods to maintain its authenticity and taste.
It produces several variants which are a blend of malt and grain. To push up its sales figures, Johnnie Walker has introduced several special edition bottles which have managed to capture the interest of Scotch lovers.
They have been sold at very high prices, making them one of the most expensive Johnnie Walker in the world.
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