Bought – ASDA, 11th March 2014
Ratings:
94.5/100 – Whisky Bible 2014
82/100 – Ralfy, of www.ralfy.com
Review: – Ralfy – Johnnie Walker Double Black – YouTube
I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve started collecting the various colours of Johnnie Walker, as I add ‘Double Black’ to my growing list of Red, Green and Black. Somehow 4 doesn’t seem all that impressive but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I add Gold and Platinum. I’ve even found myself considering Blue, although I could buy several excellent single malts for the same price as one bottle of the Blue Label. But sometimes ‘collector madness’ can blind you to common sense.
I hadn’t been considering getting the Double Black until ASDA reduced it by £10. It seemed only fair to try it. The ‘double’ element refers to taking Black Label as the base and doubling it up by adding more peaty malts and other whisky smoked in heavily charred oak casks.
Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2014 gives the Black Label 95.5/100 but the Double Black’s score of 94.5/100 is extremely high. He says of it “there is an earthiness to this unlike any other JW” and adds “this is a welcome and impressive addition to the Johnnie Walker stable”.
