whisky review 377 - Johnnie Walker Gold Label
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- Опубликовано: 13 июл 2013
- a classic Scotch blend gets a sympathetic but unsentimental appraisal.
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Very good review. I make no bones to people about being a journeyman whisky drinker. I like quality 'safe' brands of which JWB is probably my favourite. As you say this was designed for the type of drinker I am. No harm in that and more power to them for delivering the product to the intended market.
Ralfy you've always guided me well and through the years, especially with more independent or less marketed drams. Thanks again
I've been on a spree of these reviews lately and I must say they are some of the best in depth reviews out there. Well earned sub.
I have to say you're the best whisky reviewer I ever heard. I been following you for several years and thanks to you I know a little bit more about whiskies. Have no words to express the gratitude!!!! It's incredible how much one can learn from you. I'm a neophyte in the world of whiskies but a very enthusiastic one. Hope some day I could meet you in person!!! greetings from spain!!
I love that pained sense of diplomacy that plays across your face out of necessity, Ralfy. We know what you mean really!
Perfect sizes review and an honest one at that. I always enjoy hearing what's on your mind, looking forward to the next one!
A few years ago, I found the Gold Label Reserve for 45 a bottle. I bought every bottle in the store! This is a great drinking scotch. 81 is a little rough.
I do concur what's your plan mark Johnnie Walker gold. Thank you so much for your review.
I almost never disagree with these reviews and I understand the perspective but I paid $80 US for this bottle (that includes tax) and I am 100% satisfied.
You will love the green label
Ralfy, video quality is really excellent lately! Thanks mate
Great review, Ralfy. I was wondering if you would be able to review Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select bourbon? It is one of my personal favorites and a very good whiskey.
If you ever watched Cheers , your much cooler than Norm. Love your talk.
thanxx for your review ralfy...btw whats your first choice when it comes to whisky??(just curious)
The best JW in my humble opinion is the Green Label (15y), as it has no grain whisky in it and a profile which is pretty comparable to a single malt.
Ralfy what is your score for Johnnie Walker Platinum. Thanks
I'm just getting into whiskey, but it's the aftertaste that really gets me on this one...I'm still trying to dissect the taste of the actual drink itself, but the taste after you swallow is fantastic.
Sir, Just bought my Gold Label today and enjoyed it with your review...I paid 80 USD for Green Label at Christmas and was told that they (state liquor agency) could no longer get it...any news?
Hi Ralfy, any chance you review the gold label reserve? i read it's blended around Clynelish single malt, wich the Gold 18 has, along with cardhu, but the reserve has more oakiness more marzipan, maybe because of younger casks? i also read that the gold reserve it's like a simpler version of the Blue label because of the layers of flavours, haven't tried it yet, thanks for the reviews !
Still the best in whisky reviews on RUclips
Great review Ralfy! I really think Johnny Gold outdoes itself ironically. It lacks definition. Surprisingly, Johnny Walker Black is my favorite. As a Canadian middle class citizen, Johnny Walker Black has plenty of kick to it, and makes me feel classy without feeling too classy. May I had (Johnny Walker Red is banned from my whiskey preferences!)
The second I heard this guys voice I knew he was gonna be awesome.
Old chill-ass Scottish dude drinking his Scotch whiskey! Now overall, what do you guys think is the best Johnny label? I always liked the Walker but I've only had a couple types. I always loved how they combine so many different bottles and malts just to make one bottle of whiskey. That's putting time and energy into your product.
My favourite, together with the green.
Used to keep a bottle of Gold around, easy drinking and looks fancy. Since I've started to actually care about the taste of my scotch, I stopped buying it, it's not bad, but not at all exiting. You hit it right on the nose
Thank you Ralfy for your review .. always a pleasure .. and I always look forward to your reviews. The Green Label is a favorite of mine from Johnnie Walker.
Its hard to get .. but I always manage to get my ex-wife (wich works with the europian union and travels alot) to get a bottle of the wonderful Green Elixir :)
Great review :)
I want to mention that I did manage to get my hands on 3 green label bottles.
I found a nice place in Tokyo which allows to have samples of various whiskies (for a buck or two).
Anyways, I've drank several johnnies and the most impressive one was the PLATINUM edition.
I've looked for a review of it but there were only a few.
Other than that I got an 'anCnoc - Peter Arkle edition' and it tastes quite good :)
Not as good as the Glenfiddich Master Edition which I seem to prefer.
Also hearing about the JW green not being discontinued is wonderful. I do not drink it all the time but I have a couple glasses in memory of my dad a few times a year and was really worried about having to pay outrageous prices from collectors cause it was off market, Also I just had a couple whiskeys that I dont seem to find in my area. 1 was the 30yo Canadian club and it was A+ in my book. The other is one I have scene you review but I cant remember the name. I think it was Blue hanger maybe
Same here, no more Green Label on the Dutch site. Still available in certain shops though.
Part of my introduction to scotch was a "Night of Johnnie Walker". They started with a cocktail hour of mixed drinks using red (and maybe black), followed by a presentation about scotch a a tasting of 4 single malts (Glenkinchie, Talisker and Lagavulin, I forget #4), along with red and black. Then dinner and the pièce de résistance...a taste of Johnnie Walker Gold. It was a fun event and I walked away with a real appreciation for Talisker and Lagavulin.
I have now the gold label reserve, I'm drinking it right now, I liked Gold but this new tastes a bit different, I think is very sweet, I loved the green label, Im sad they discontinued it. what do you think about the new gold label reserve, the original gold label is no longer available either
Can you review the new JW Platinum Label?
Ralfy, if you continue on the JW blends line-up I would love to hear your thoughts on thier newest products; The Platinum Label; The Gold Label Reserve, or The Spice Road.
Hi ralfy what do you say about the platinum lable?
just bought it,but its the 15yo one,i was going to buy the black lable but this was only 8 euros more expensive,i love whiskey but im very new with zero experience to the tastes,i have only drank red lable,do you think i made a right choice?
JW Red is only good for mixing. JW Black 12 is an excellent out-on-the-town neat dram. As a neat dram, JW Green 15 is probably the best of the JW line when balancing quality, price, & accessibility. JW Swing is also excellent as a neat dram. Slainte,
I am in the greater San Francisco area, Green & Gold are still on the shelf at a nearby private shop.
I totally agree with this review. I sipped this one a week ago, and had the same impressions. Too expensive in comparison with the fun that it can deliver.
how about whiskey stones>?. i love my gold label. next i will get is platinum label
I love the black label but may just try a bottle of gold label after watching your review.
Very interesting score, especially compared to other blends that are much less expensive - Vat 69 (86), Black & White (86), JW Black Label (86).
Best blended scotch by a mile, berry brothers & Rudd. Blue hanger. Hope you will review it ralfy.
Hi Irish,
Green is still available here in the US for now, and may be for a few more months, but it is definitely going away. The last I heard was that it would be available in the US through the end of the summer.
Hey Ralfy! Love the Vids! As a Johnnie Walker fan, you should definitely review Platinum Label. It has the mix of quality of both Gold and Black label (in my opinion). If you haven't tried it I would defo give it a go!
Oh and as far as Green Label goes.. it has in fact been replaced with Gold Label reserve - but is still very available. The official line-up for JW is now Red,Black,Gold Reserve,Platinum,Blue. Love the vids Ralfy keep it up! :)
I was about to say I recalled you having given a 97 to Glenmorangie, but I re-watched the video first. I must have been listening to review without looking at the screen the first time!
Nice review Ralphy sir
Tons of Green, indeed - when I heard it was discontinued, I went out and bought a case... it is half a year later, and the shelves are still full. Such a shame, because this latest batch of Green is actually the best I've had!
your reviews are great i learnt every thing about the whiskey thankyou....
i would like you to review Platinum label............
This is a delicious Scotch, but if you prefer a more "earthy" profile, it's not for you. JWG is a silky blend of butterscotch and honey with just enough whisper of citrus to gloriously bathe your tongue in sweet yet deep delight. As noted, it's best with a splash, but holds its own neat. An "81?" Pluh-eeez. Solid 90 plus and all to whom I have introduced this proud member of the JW family agree it's become their go-to blend for celebrating a great day, or a great night... If you want a single, then get one. But if you've purchased a Scotch that says "blend" on the label, few successfully compete with Johnnie Walker Gold.
What are your feelings on Glendronach 12 and Isle of Arran 12 cask strength? I love your stuff!
Hi Ralfy, Any plans on reviewing the JW Platinum label?
And how do you view JW vs Chivas in terms of whiskey quality?
I don't doubt it; Diageo seems to be in retreat on all fronts. When the Double Black came out, I thought it might be a trial balloon for taking away the regular Black's age statement. Cheers!
I keep hearing that JW green is no longer being made. But my local store has plenty, and they haven't heard its going away. Should I be stashing some away?
The Gold and the Green labels sell for approximately the same price here. $69.99 CAD for the Gold label, and $70.99 CAD for the Green (in Alberta Canada). While both are great blends, the Green label in my opinion is a superior product. If you are at your local bar or retailer and faced with a choice between the two, go for the Green. :)
One of the official serving suggestions for the 18 was, in fact, to serve it from a bottle that had been in the fridge or freezer.
Folks take Ralfy with a big grain of salt on the JW line. Let me say I'm a huge fan of all these "More Challenging and More Rewarding" scotches that Ralfy recommends. However, JW Gold is a very nice scotch! Sure...it's different than most single malts where more intensity will be found. However, at times I'm in the mood for something rich in honey yet more subtle and refined than some bigger complex single malts. The single malts are not better, they're just different...so to say they're more "rewarding" is not a statement of fact from Ralfy but rather subjective opinion...and again I have a pallet that loves intense single malts. The fun part about scotch for me is noticing the nuances between all kinds and styles of quality scotches, and JW Gold is one of them. For someone else it might be simply enjoying subtle or refined, or someone else it might only be more intense single malts. Unless your the latter JW Gold will probably please you about as much as several other scotches Ralfy has rated in the 90's.
I didn't find it on the website either, but other people claim to have done so (on other websites for other markets?).
I really like this taste!
Stupid question but but does anyone make malted grain whiskey?
Wow, I haven't heard you use the descriptor "smooth" ever Ralfy.
Thankfully the Green label is staying here, it is a fantastic whisky. When I was on a ferry I picked up 4 bottles of the "pure malt" at 43% I think, for 35 euros each. It is a masterful blend, as is the Black label which should have their place as a truly quality blend.
Was it Oban, Clynelish, or Cragganmore? The other three malts you mentioned represent all the other regions in the Classic Malts range so I'm guessing the fourth single malt was a Diageo distillery in the Highlands or Speyside.
Platinum label is been discontinued replaced by jw age 18 years old
7:04 "...this is...smooth...." LOL. You are a gentleman, sir, so I know you will deny it but I do believe I have just heard the word 'smooth' mean 'pablum' or maybe even 'shite'. Just promise me that, if we ever meet for a dram, you won't offer me Gold Label. I'd be crushed... My wife and I love your reviews. Many thanks!
Would it be beneficial to save a bottle of green rather than drink it?
Ralfy, in Review 17 you gave Teacher's Highland Cream a very respectable 88/100, with a later annotation that the quality had slipped a bit. Can you comment on THC's current status, or if you have any plans for a re-review? Thanks for your insightful commentary, much appreciated.
Are discontinued Johnnie Walker's worth collecting as compared to the single malts?
"And that's just what it is " : gold boxes : well said !
The Green label has been discontinued from the UK market. As far as I'm aware it's still available from duty frees and in other markets. It's been replaced by the new gold label reserve which is not a patch on the green. The new platinum's pretty nice but like all Johnnie Walkers it falls into the 'poser' category of whiskies as you mentioned which is sadly becoming a the norm for big brands to aspire to be a hot, must have item for the rich and stupid, and those who pretend. Great review mate!
By the way, u should definitely consider a comparison between the new Green Label, and your older bottle. Kind of like u did with the Red Label. In my humble opinion, they are vastly different. Still quite good, but different.
hi ralfy, cam this version of gold label still be found easily off the market? thanks
+Matthew Abela here in the the states rarely when i find it i usually by all i can .. theres another version that came out . honestly it doesnt taste the same at all
Yes I know. The one you are talking about is the Johnny Walker Gold Label Reserve. What about the Johnny Walker Green Label? Can it easily be found?
I think the Green label rumor might have been a clever tactic to spike sales. I know it worked on me... I bought 4 bottles of the stuff!
For them to put 18 years old on the bottle does the grain whisky and the malt whisky have to be 18 yo or just the malt?
+conradbw . . . all spirit used must by law, be or exceed the age stated.
There's still plenty of Green in the USA and I bought a couple cases because my Aunts like it. I heard the US would be the last market to get phased out. I've had the Black, Green, Gold, and Blue and I think the Green is the best of the lot. As for Gold - I'd rather have my Clynelish 14yo solo.
Apparently, according to Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 - "Single malt Scotch whisky means a Scotch whisky produced from only water and malted barley at a single distillery by batch distillation in pot stills." (Wiki quoted). There may be no stipulation on still type for the production of grain spirit - at least I haven't found one.
Wikipedia has the Green being discontinued as of Dec. 2011 and the JW website no longer lists the Green as one of “Our Labels”. The vatted Green was arguably the best value in the range, but the problem was that, at 15 years and 100% malt, it was worth more dead than alive - cutting up its elements and redistributing them among the other products was more profitable for JW and Diageo so....
It definitely wasn't Clynelish, as I've only recently discovered how much I like that malt. Now you have me thinking that it was probably Oban.
is this the gold label reserve ralfy or 18 cant read the bottle good score for your standards i myself have only tryed jw red and black not impressed is this worth the risk for me im more of a speyside fan sherry casks any info wud be helpfull cheers from Ireland
Love your videos. I am watching all of them religiously. I watched your J&B Reserve video and gathered that you generally do not care for the Rare line. I'm trying to train myself to enjoy Scotch in the way you or others would. My question is, am I wasting my time on the J&B Rare? Is the Rare looked at with disdain by most? I have not scouted my area too much but I know that I have Chivas Regal 12 readily available as well as well as some standard Dewar's. Thanks!
Wow, a textbook example of damning with faint praise.... Johnny W never did a thing for me beyond the handsome marketing except the Green Label. Good to know it's still around.
I bought a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold a few years back and it was very different from the Centenary edition featured in this video that seems to be the only kind of Gold you can get now. It was something really special, and I'm a little devastated that the product is gone but the name and label endures. I was hoping there'd be some insight into what happened as Johnnie Walker seems to have shifted it's labels a little. (so I hope the green that's going to continue is the green I like), and I've yet to try the 18 Platinum (which I'm hoping is the remarketing of the old Gold I fell in love with). I hope you get your hands on the original Gold and do a comparison. It wasn't peaty and it was impossibly smooth and delicious.
I know it is a late reaction, but could it be that the gold you are referring to is the gold 18 label that is in rotation now?
@@urbnctrl Ha, a little late. I haven't had a drink in a year and a half, (one kidney stone too many) so I'm not quite sure what's in rotation now. I think the XR21 is dangerously close to what the Gold I remember was. I'm pretty sure I tasted the 18 after making that post* and neither what became the Gold nor the 18 was close to the Gold I had.
*(a time period I would like to refer to as half-an-Oban-14 ago) :P
I have been given a 1951 Glen Grant as a birthday gift, and I'm anxious to open it. Are there special precautions in opening and storing it? (I'm thinking that once it hits the air it will decay, like certain bodies in Poe and Lovecraft.) Thanks--
Ralfy, have you ever looked at the growing of barley and malting? I'm guessing there are various qualities of both but have seen no reviews.
My father owns a Jonnie Walker Blue Label King George edition V. A present from a family member when he turned 50. Do you Ralfy, know how it tastes? He do not dare to open it... But all I want to is to taste it =D. Guessing it's smart to save that one for a better time. Anyway, much much love from Sweden, and keep up the good work, I appreciate the films very much!
Does this represent good value at £35 for a 70cl bottle?
Jay Sunshine I do actually think that the new "gold label reserve" is quite nice for the price. Or well, maybe, it is just that the taste suits me. Whisky is a very personal thing anyway.
Did I actually hear you call a whisky smooth @7:06 ? WOW !
10:34 Luxury mixer ? Not fair Ralfy. I don't think Jim Beveridge would appreciate that. Gold label is already combined spirits put in one bottle.
What is the difference between 18yr gold label and the gold label without an age statement?
Last year at a whisky festival, the brand rep said that Green would continue to be offered in Japan and Travel Retail. I hope he was right, as I agree with you that the Green was the best of the range.
But, since the website doesn't list it anymore, I'm afraid he misspoke.
Gold Label made me like Whiskey.
Absolutely love the "Just being honest" comment about keeping it the drinks cab for guests who dont know whiskey and to impress. I have quite a few fancy duds in my bar as well. I pick up the odd bottle every now and then when a friend swears its amazing and 9 out of 10 its shit. The funny thing is when I have company over nobody touches my "Good stuff" (my personal choices) they always go for the known brands. Once in a blue moon they ask about my green label but only cause its JW.
Ralfy, if you continue on blends you should get a bottle of the Black Grouse.
I bought a bottle of JW Gold a couple years ago... a terrible waste of $70USD. I still have half a bottle. It's now totally flat and mellow. But I give it to less experienced guests who drink it on ice and they love it and think I'm generous. But in reality, I'm unloading my crap whisky. Does that make me a bad person?
Another man's crap is another person's treasure !
Not at all. If they're drinking whisky on ice then they certainly don't deserve your best stuff anway. So long as they're happy, I'd call it a win-win!
You know, when I was tasting Scotch in the 1990's, I tried J.W. Gold a number of times. I thought it was delicious, and an improvement over "Black" and "Red" (the latter I thought better than Black) ... Anyway, one day I tried "Gold" head to head with Pinch 15 yrs., and it was very hard to tell the difference! (Besides the price!)
The nineties may have been a good era for Scotch, but the JW label tends to be overpriced, though they can make formidable blends, when they are serious about it.
6:40 thru about 7:01 . Sage advice Ralfy!
No more Green being shipped to Canada. Very hard to get any but most private stores that have it in stock have not caught on and have not jacked up prices yet.
I wish it was still there tho ;)
Ralfy... I looked back at review 107 for Canadian Club which received an 82. Do you feel that the JW Gold can be at times a "lesser" whisky when compared to the Canadian Club. I have no preference for either but just thought that the scores were interesting. Cheers on another great review! I have some suggestions for a show theme, don't know how you would prefer that I share that with you.
Except that JW says that Green Label has, in fact, been discontinued for all markets. What's out there now, in whatever quantity at whatever location, is all there is.
Just curious, Ralfy, how far ahead do you plan your vlog topics? Best Regards.
You didn't mention the Platinum label, have you tried it? I'm no expert, but to me it seems quite similar in sentiment to your opinions on the Gold (which I haven't tried). Simple, inoffensive, a strong warmth, but I did like the nice dark chocolate finish.
Ralfy, the one time i had johnny walker gold it was like drinking liquid smoke but in a good way. i can not figure out were you are getting these others notes of flavor? i love your reviews but this one confuses me.
Jay
Fair enough, and I think your comment gets at the central issue: if a whisky is INTENDED to be consumed with mix, and even if it's VERY serviceable that way, how good can it really be on its own? Cheers!