Johnnie Walker Double Black Label

Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Location: Kilmarnock, Scotland
Proof: 80
Distiller website
Rating: A-

Today we follow up our last review of the Johnnie Walker Black Label with their new release, the Double Black Label. The Double Black pours up a deep honey-amber color and looks identical to the Black Label in color when placed side-by-side. The nose has the same peat, oak and vanilla from the Black Label along with a big helping of wood smoke.

On the palate the Double Black Label has peat smoke up front along with some black pepper spiciness. There are notes of vanilla, oak and iodine as well, but they are further in the background than the Black Label. There is also a hint of oaked red wine here as well. The mouthfeel is tannicly astringent just like the Black Label. On the finish, the Double Black Label has vanilla sweetness paired with pit barbecue smoke.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the Double Black Label, but what I found was remarkably close to the original Black Label. The vanilla and smoke notes were bigger on the double black and the iodine and sweetness (particularly on the finish) were a little toned down. There is a nice black pepper spiciness in the Double Black as well. I think I was expecting something drastically bigger or different with the Double Black Label, but what I found instead was just a bit of a modification to the original. While the Double Black Label is not a "rush out and buy this now" kind of release, it is still an excellent whisky on its own merit.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Location: Kilmarnock, Scotland
Age: 12 years
Proof: 80
Distiller website
Rating: A-

We're doing some scotch reviews this week to test out some recent acquisitions of mine, namely the Glencairn whisky tasting glass and Johnnie Walker's Double Black Label. We're going to start off today with the original Black Label to have a comparison for its "double" brother. Johnnie Walker Black Label pours up a deep honey-amber in color. The nose detects peat, smoke, oak and some seaweed.

On the palate, peat is the dominant flavor. Smokiness and oak play the lead support roles. Some iodine notes (similar to bacon or seaweed) are here along with hints of vanilla, unsweetened chocolate and cherries. Johnnie Walker Black Label has a slightly astringent, tannic mouthfeel. The finish is slightly sweet, with oak and fading peat. The sweet note is the last to fade in the end.

Johnnie Walker Black Label has long been my go-to blended scotch. It has the classic Islay peat and iodine flavor I love (largely owing to the Lagavulin used in the blend) without being overpowering. This is one of my all-time favorite pairings for a sweet, chocolaty dessert.