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Release Notes
Taking cues from the unparalleled flavors of Johnnie Walker Black Label, Master Blender Jim Beveridge struck out to craft a blend that would take the intensity of Black to unexplored territory. He started on Scotland's vast shores, rediscovering the powerful west coast and subtle east coast scotches integral to today's world-renowned Black Label.
After hand-selecting a number of whiskies defined by hints of smoldering charcoal, crisp ash and burnt timber, we barreled our blend to mature in deep-charred old oak casks. The result is an unquestionably smokier, more intense experience, but with deep, dark roots in a rich blend that changed the world: Johnnie Walker Black Label. Simply put, it is Black, amplified.
Blended to break the rules, Double Black boasts an edgy confidence in flavor that separates it from its balanced relative, Johnnie Walker Black Label. It is not simply a darker version of Black Label, for it cannot be defined by color alone. Nevertheless, the two blends are intrinsically linked. As any discriminating drinker can see, they share DNA - in their smoky nose, unmistakable spice and slight tones of dried fruit.
But the similarities end there. Double Black is un-aged and different to Black Label in the way it's been blended. With this newest blend, taste trumps all. And since its recent release, accolades have solidified Double Black's place within the world's most popular scotch portfolio.
While its finish will undoubtably linger, Double Black itself will not. Its stunningly small run is characteristic of a blend best suited to the most ambitious and adventurous Johnnie Walker enthusiasts, eager to explore another side of Black. But our Double Black locator (above) will make sure you've secured a bottle of your own before this rare blend, like a billow of smoke, quietly fades away.
Johnnie Walker
3rd Party Tasting Notes
Nose: Take in the delicious scent of sweet smoke and cloves.
Palate: Relish the unmistakably peaty taste – rich with raisins, fresh apples and a tropical orange flavor combined with creamy vanilla.
Finish: Evolving to a wonderfully long, warming finish. The smoldering spice from oak-aged casks makes for a powerful and lingering smokiness.
Palate: Relish the unmistakably peaty taste – rich with raisins, fresh apples and a tropical orange flavor combined with creamy vanilla.
Finish: Evolving to a wonderfully long, warming finish. The smoldering spice from oak-aged casks makes for a powerful and lingering smokiness.
Johnnie Walker
Nose: a fairly pungent alcoholic sting, this is a weird whisky: it creates a lot of impressions but no real flavours. It is smokey, there's peat, oil and brine but these are really fairly broad characteristics and its hard to be more specific
Palate: Heavy alcohol and aggressive smoke. This was a challenge but I got hold some honey and maybe fruit notes. At a push, there's a little hint of pear and tiny vanilla-esque notes
Body: Harsh
Finish: violent tobacco smoke. The finish comes out of nowhere and rounds off an unsatisfying that's entirely lacking in structure
Rating: 57/100
Palate: Heavy alcohol and aggressive smoke. This was a challenge but I got hold some honey and maybe fruit notes. At a push, there's a little hint of pear and tiny vanilla-esque notes
Body: Harsh
Finish: violent tobacco smoke. The finish comes out of nowhere and rounds off an unsatisfying that's entirely lacking in structure
Rating: 57/100
glassbottle, Connosr
Johnnie Walker is heavily promoting its new creation, the Double Black, at least in places where people get in the air. I had the opportunity to sample some drops at Miami International Airport. In fact, JW was present in all duty free shops and even offered the free liquid in special stalls. According to the label, I was facing "a rich, intense smoky blend containing whisky matured in deep-charred old oak casks." The reasonably knowledgeable and pretty young ladies who poured me the shot confirmed that there is no age statement and that I could purchase two liter bottles for the promotional price of US$80.00. So what is in the Double Black besides the aggressive propaganda campaign? Nose: sweet and smoky, very smooth. Sweetness and smoke smother any other elements and reduce the complexity of the whisky. Palate: confirms the nose, almost sugary sweetness, the smoke tastes almost artificial. Finish: down the throat and the taste disappears. Of course, the smoke lingers a little bit, but not much. I am not sure what JW is aiming at. Smoky single malts have become very competitive on the American market. Does JW want to introduce its smoky line to compete on the market? The result is so-so. Yes, it is highly drinkable, but it is light years away from any deeper complexity. It seems the smoke flavor has been added afterwards - not so different from the artificial bacon and smoke flavor in food (at least in the U.S.). Not very impressive. For a few bucks more you can buy a "real" peated whisky.
Rating: 75/100
Rating: 75/100
sailorman, Connosr
Nose: Fruity. White peach. Pears poached in a sweet syrup. Hint of yeast.
Palate: Smooth and round. A bit watery and bland. Sweet vanilla. Cereals with a touch of honey.
Finish: Short, sweet. Fades quickly.
Comment: Not unpleasant but light in flavours although syrupy in texture.
Rating: 74/100
Palate: Smooth and round. A bit watery and bland. Sweet vanilla. Cereals with a touch of honey.
Finish: Short, sweet. Fades quickly.
Comment: Not unpleasant but light in flavours although syrupy in texture.
Rating: 74/100
Martine Nouet, Whisky Magazine #95
Nose: Smoky and slightly medicinal, hints of citrus and a sweetness. Some distant barbecue notes as well.
Palate: Rich and full. A slight grain note, black pepper comes through with a peated edge. Bags of malt tones too.
Finish: Shortish with the smoky notes coming back at the end.
Comment: No back to Black after this.
Rating: 79/100
Palate: Rich and full. A slight grain note, black pepper comes through with a peated edge. Bags of malt tones too.
Finish: Shortish with the smoky notes coming back at the end.
Comment: No back to Black after this.
Rating: 79/100
Rob Allanson, Whisky Magazine #95
Nose: Brine,pepper,barbecue smoke ,sherry. i was expecting a more Smoky, and peaty experience, from the "double" black, but the nose is extremely enjoyable with the BBQ notes, brine and the sweeter bits.
Palate: The grain notes stand out at the front, then comes the sweet, sugary stuff, and only later enters the smoke, and BBQed meat. Again, not as smoky as i had expected, but nicely balanced, well combined.
Finish : Sweet, smoky. ending on BBQ again.
Bottom line: This NAS expression is nicer than the 'plain' old Black. It's wee more smoky,though not peaty, and the extra BBQ notes are quite enjoyable. A solid blended whisky, which does not lack complexity, but is also very drinkable. Too bad it's currently only available at Travel Retail shops. I can't belive i am writing this, but - Well done, Diageo.
Rating: 84/100
Palate: The grain notes stand out at the front, then comes the sweet, sugary stuff, and only later enters the smoke, and BBQed meat. Again, not as smoky as i had expected, but nicely balanced, well combined.
Finish : Sweet, smoky. ending on BBQ again.
Bottom line: This NAS expression is nicer than the 'plain' old Black. It's wee more smoky,though not peaty, and the extra BBQ notes are quite enjoyable. A solid blended whisky, which does not lack complexity, but is also very drinkable. Too bad it's currently only available at Travel Retail shops. I can't belive i am writing this, but - Well done, Diageo.
Rating: 84/100
galg, Connosr
The Brand: Johnnie Walker
| Established: 1860 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: |
| → website |
On 1st July 2009, Bryan Donaghey, Diageo Managing Director for Global Supply Scotland, announced that Diageo intended to cease production of Johnnie Walker Whisky at the historic plant in Kilmarnock. Under a restructuring program across Scotland, production would be moved from the brand"s original home to Diageo plants in Leven, Fife and Shieldhall, Glasgow. The Johnnie Walker plant, the largest employer in the town of Kilmarnock, is intended to close its doors by the end of 2011.
News of the planned closure has had widespread media attention and condemnation from MPs, celebrities, as well as the townsfolk of Kilmarnock and whisky drinkers all around the world. Following the decision, a public campaign started to persuade Diageo as a company to reverse this decision. However on 9th September 2009 Diageo stated that they intended to press ahead with the move away from Kilmarnock and that the matter was "closed".
From 1906-1909 John"s grandsons George and Alexander II expanded the line and introduced the colour names. In 1908, when James Stevenson was the Managing Director, there was a re-branding of sorts. The whisky was renamed from Walker"s Kilmarnock Whiskies to Johnnie Walker Whisky. In addition, the slogan, "Born 1820 - Still going Strong!" was created, along with the Striding Man, a figure used in their advertisements for around fifty years.
Johnnie Walker White was dropped during World War I. In 1932, Alexander II added Johnnie Walker Swing to the line, the name originating from the unusual shape of the bottle, which allowed it to rock back and forth.
Prior to 1860 it was illegal to sell blended whisky. During that time John Walker sold a number of whiskies - notably his own Walker"s Kilmarnock. In 1865 John"s son Alexander produced their first blend, Walker"s Old Highland.
Alexander Walker first introduced the iconic square bottle in 1870. This meant fewer broken bottles and more bottles fitting the same space. The other identifying characteristic of the bottle is the label, which is applied at an angle of 24 degrees. The angled label means the text on the label could be made larger and more visible.
It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whisky in the world, sold in almost every country with yearly sales of over 130 million bottles.
Originally known as Walker"s Killme Whisky, the Johnnie Walker brand is a legacy left by John "Johnnie" Walker after he started to sell whisky in his grocer"s shop in Ayrshire, Scotland. The brand became popular, but after Walker"s death in 1857 it was his son Alexander Walker and grandson Alexander Walker II who were largely responsible for establishing the scotch as a popular brand. Under John Walker, whisky sales represented eight percent of the firm"s income; by the time Alexander was ready to pass on the company to his own sons, that figure had increased to between 90 and 95 percent.
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch Whisky owned by Diageo and produced in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.
The company joined Distillers Company in 1925. Distillers was acquired by Guinness in 1986, and Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo in 1997.
Johnnie Walker continues to be blended in Kilmarnock, with a large plant just north of the town"s railway station. The historic bonded warehouses and company offices (now local authority) can still be seen in Strand Street and John Finnie Street.
from Wikipedia
The Owner: Diageo
| Established: 1997 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: 8 Henrietta Place, London, W1G ONB, UK |
| → website |
Diageo also distributes Unicum, its lighter-bodied variant Zwack and Jose Cuervo tequila products in North America. However, Cuervo operates as a separate company in Mexico and is not owned by Diageo. Similarly Grand Marnier is distributed by Diageo in many markets, including exclusively in Canada, and a deal was reached in 2009 to significantly expand this partnership in Europe.
Furthermore, Diageo owns the Gleneagles Hotel.
Diageo was formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc. The creation was driven by the two executives Anthony Greener and Philip Yea at Guinness plus George Bull and John McGrath of Grand Metropolitan. The product portfolios of Guinness and Grand Met were largely complementary with little overlap.
Diageo is the world"s biggest whisky producer with 28 malt distilleries and two grain distilleries.The company operates the Scotch whisky distilleries of Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol (situated at Pitlochry), Caol Ila, Cardhu, Knockando, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Strathmill, Talisker, Teaninich, Mannochmore, Mortlach and Glenlossie, which are sold not only under their own name but used to make the various blended scotch whiskies sold by the company, and owns the stock of many closed distilleries such as Port Ellen, Rosebank, Brora, Convalmore, Glen Albyn, North Brechin, Banff, and Linlithgow. The company have opened a new malt distillery adjacent to their maltings at Roseisle (1st new make spirit produced Spring 2009). This will be one of the largest malt distilleries in Scotland. The new building contains 14 traditional copper pot stills. An expansion programme is also underway at its Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife that will make it the largest grain distillery in Scotland. Diageo also owns the Port Dundas Grain Distillery in Glasgow, and jointly operates the North British Grain Distillery in Gorgie, Edinburgh, with The Edrington Group.
Diageo plc (LSE: DGE, NYSE: DEO) is the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has American Depositary Receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The word Diageo was formed from the Latin dia (day) and the Greek geo (World), symbolising the use of the company"s brands every day, everywhere. Its head office is located in the City of Westminster in London. It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Trivia:
- In December 2003, Diageo provoked controversy over its decision to change its Cardhu brand Scotch whisky from a single malt to a vatted malt (also known as a pure malt) whilst retaining the original name and bottle style. Diageo took this action because it did not have sufficient reserves to meet demand in the Spanish market, where Cardhu had been successful. After a meeting of producers, Diageo agreed to make changes.
- In 2006, the Cardhu brand quietly changed back to being a single malt.
- In July 2009, Diageo announced that, after nearly 200 years of association with the town of Kilmarnock, they would be closing the Johnnie Walker blending and bottling plant as part of restructuring to the business. This would make 700 workers unemployed and caused outrage from press, local people and politicians. A campaign against this decision was launched by the local SNP MSP Willie Coffey and Labour MP Des Browne. A petition was drawn up against the Diageo plans, which also involves the closure of the historic Port Dundas Grain Distillery in Glasgow.
- In February 2009 it was reported in the Guardian that the company had restructured itself so as to avoid paying tax in the U.K., despite much of its profits being generated in the U.K.
- Diageo is engaged in a tax scheme in the United States of America, commonly referred to as the "Rum Bailout", which will guarantee it USD$3 billion in revenues and profits.
- The National Puerto Rican Coalitionplans to run a series of ads in New York City and Puerto Rico urging a boycott of Diageo-owned alcoholic drinks to protest the giant British-owned corporation"s controversial production move of its Captain Morgan rum from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
from Wikipedia