This special version of the classic Walker Green Label loses the age statement in exchange for a whole lot more peat. But is that a good trade to make?
We can´t get Green Label in Iceland, I got a bottle of Island Green a few weeks ago, finished that one and couldn´t wait to get another one. got one yesterday.
I haven't tried this, but from your review, I totally agree about the branding; something like Johnnie Walker PURE BLACK Blended Malt with any kind of age statement, even a 5 or an 8, would've been better. As for standard Green Label 15, it once was one of my favorites, and a crazy good value given its pedigree, but it's lost something; I had it recently (someone else's bottle) and it's just a bit too homogenized. Not bad, but not exceptional.
The Green 15 I have is the pre 2012 when they took it off the market and then brought it back years later but was not as good. I'm glad I have a couple bottles of it and probably the best bang for the buck from Johnnie Walker
The value of JW green is great it goes for about 80 dollars Canadian so for a 15 year old blended malt it’s unbeatable also the balance of the blend is amazing definetly one of the better whiskeys I’ve tried at the price point. this one looks interesting might give it a go if I can find it
Great review. But indeed, I rhink you are a bit too overly critical with the naming. „Green“ at JW is clearly associated with a blended malt - which Island Green is. So the association actually works. I have had a different problem with the naming of JW: the „Black Label Origin“ series. Black Label is clearly associated with a blended whisky. I thought that the origin series is a blended whisky (with grain) that highlights certain areas of Scotland. But (apart from the Lowland origin) they are blended malts. So the e.g. „Islay Origin“ contains only Islay Single Malts (Lagavulin and Caol Ila in particular). THERE, the name Black Label is very misleading!
I'm in the Tim camp on this one. It's not a Green label. The fact that they're using Cardhu tells us a lot, That's a churned out workhorse distillery and so is Caol Ila to some degree. Maybe Diageo are protecting the Talisker. Only real whisky geeks will notice the age statement deception at the airport and maybe that's part of the marketing plan. It's the use of the word 'Green' on the label that's the problem. They should have just given it a different name. This might taste okay but is it better than litre bottles of Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 in the airport lounge, often at sale price? By the way, the regular Green 15 yr would be so much better at 46%. Fine review as always gents.
the Jane Walker 10 year L.E. all malt from last year is a little peaty and decent. A little more sherried than other Johnnie Walkers in general and priced very well and got it for $38. 41.9 % ABV. Surprised how good for the price but it's a one and done.
Not sure if i care about the name or colour but whst do i know. I enjoy jw black so id love to try this. Enjoyed the review and listening to all your opinions as well. Thank you
They could have probably priced this bottle higher. Compared to the JW Spice Road series in duty-free, this one was a bargain. I haven't seen it in 'the wild' yet, so I can only assume that it is still a D.F. exclusive. I think you're right though Tim, JW Green is such a gem, that it is something they shouldn't have misappropriated!
You could say that the regular Green gave me that breakthrough moment about 10 years ago - that was in the Caribbean so when I saw the Island Green in my mind I still associate it with the Caribbean more than I do Islay. I've bought a second bottle of this that I'm working on so that's telling whether I like this one or not. I think your commentary on the colour designation is a sound one, as you pointed out though with Double Black already crowding the shelf, I guess they were simply capitalizing on the popularity of the Green Label - if aficionados are going to uptalk a JW, it's usually the Green Label. It may be whisky blasphemy but I've never met a JW I didn't like. I don't buy them very often but I'm certainly not ever really planning on being over the brand.
Just grabbed this from duty free in the DR and I love it, it’s probably the boldest Johnnie I’ve had. If you like heavy peat this is a must buy.
I like this whisky. One I would go back to.
Green Label is an early favourite of ours
I actually quite like the Island Green (as well as the regular) but Tim makes some good points.
We can´t get Green Label in Iceland, I got a bottle of Island Green a few weeks ago, finished that one and couldn´t wait to get another one. got one yesterday.
I haven't tried this, but from your review, I totally agree about the branding; something like Johnnie Walker PURE BLACK Blended Malt with any kind of age statement, even a 5 or an 8, would've been better.
As for standard Green Label 15, it once was one of my favorites, and a crazy good value given its pedigree, but it's lost something; I had it recently (someone else's bottle) and it's just a bit too homogenized. Not bad, but not exceptional.
The Green 15 I have is the pre 2012 when they took it off the market and then brought it back years later but was not as good. I'm glad I have a couple bottles of it and probably the best bang for the buck from Johnnie Walker
Johnny Walker green was my first real whisky, and i still love it. Only blended i still buy every now and then. Curious about the island.
The value of JW green is great it goes for about 80 dollars Canadian so for a 15 year old blended malt it’s unbeatable also the balance of the blend is amazing definetly one of the better whiskeys I’ve tried at the price point. this one looks interesting might give it a go if I can find it
Great review. But indeed, I rhink you are a bit too overly critical with the naming.
„Green“ at JW is clearly associated with a blended malt - which Island Green is. So the association actually works.
I have had a different problem with the naming of JW: the „Black Label Origin“ series.
Black Label is clearly associated with a blended whisky. I thought that the origin series is a blended whisky (with grain) that highlights certain areas of Scotland.
But (apart from the Lowland origin) they are blended malts. So the e.g. „Islay Origin“ contains only Islay Single Malts (Lagavulin and Caol Ila in particular).
THERE, the name Black Label is very misleading!
I'm in the Tim camp on this one. It's not a Green label. The fact that they're using Cardhu tells us a lot, That's a churned out workhorse distillery and so is Caol Ila to some degree. Maybe Diageo are protecting the Talisker. Only real whisky geeks will notice the age statement deception at the airport and maybe that's part of the marketing plan. It's the use of the word 'Green' on the label that's the problem. They should have just given it a different name. This might taste okay but is it better than litre bottles of Talisker 10 and Ardbeg 10 in the airport lounge, often at sale price? By the way, the regular Green 15 yr would be so much better at 46%. Fine review as always gents.
12 YO Caol Ila for the peat; 5-6 Cardhus, Linkwood, Blair Athol, Clynelish and Glenkinchie.
the Jane Walker 10 year L.E. all malt from last year is a little peaty and decent. A little more sherried than other Johnnie Walkers in general and priced very well and got it for $38. 41.9 % ABV. Surprised how good for the price but it's a one and done.
Not sure if i care about the name or colour but whst do i know. I enjoy jw black so id love to try this. Enjoyed the review and listening to all your opinions as well. Thank you
They could have probably priced this bottle higher. Compared to the JW Spice Road series in duty-free, this one was a bargain. I haven't seen it in 'the wild' yet, so I can only assume that it is still a D.F. exclusive. I think you're right though Tim, JW Green is such a gem, that it is something they shouldn't have misappropriated!
One of my favorite, a gift from my brother from a duty free aeroport (it's where you can find it).
You could say that the regular Green gave me that breakthrough moment about 10 years ago - that was in the Caribbean so when I saw the Island Green in my mind I still associate it with the Caribbean more than I do Islay. I've bought a second bottle of this that I'm working on so that's telling whether I like this one or not. I think your commentary on the colour designation is a sound one, as you pointed out though with Double Black already crowding the shelf, I guess they were simply capitalizing on the popularity of the Green Label - if aficionados are going to uptalk a JW, it's usually the Green Label. It may be whisky blasphemy but I've never met a JW I didn't like. I don't buy them very often but I'm certainly not ever really planning on being over the brand.
It's probably been over a decade since I've tried it, but have you guys ever reviewed Johnnie Walker Swing?
A quick search of CZcams shows me that you have 👍
do you have a table or chart of what you've reviewed with scores?
No. But we should work on that!
Its JW guys.....
The whole of the UK 🇬🇧 is an island
"...a collection of over 6,000 islands, of which Great Britain is the largest." Plenty to choose from.
@@WhiskyMystery ..yes indeed I live in Scotland ( Dundee) and strangely enough jhonnie walker is not as popular here as it seems to be in the U.S.A
@@peterhamilton2695 I am sure they sell plenty in Scotland but yes the most is probably the US.