Of the JW range, this is also my favorite. When I heard it was being discontinued back in 2011, I bought 2 cases and still have 6 bottles left. I compared the old with the new when it came out and although not as great as the old one, I still buy a new one every few years to see how it's doing. I'm about due for another head to head.
I have fond memories of JW Green Label 15 Yo in the early 2000s when I got into whiskies ....yes the flavour profile has changed but it's still my favourite blended malt. I love individual building blocks that make up this whisky
Also my favourite and still affordable. Every now and then I'll pick up a tasting pack on offer, just to walk the range. It's good to see if any of my preferences have changed, without committing to a full bottle. The Green just has better malt notes for me with enough sea salt or slight peat to keep me happy. Cheers!
Thanks Vin. This is the only JW I can honestly say that I enjoy after buying a bottle ~2years ago. I have had the blue but it has been so many years ago I can't remember much about it, only that it was pretty smooth and better than the red/black.
No doubt an underrated JW. You inspired me to crack open I bottle I have had for a while and enjoy a dram while watching this excellent analysis. Kanpai!
Enjoyed the review Vin. I really like this whisky, it's an easy drinker 😉 and agree it's great for the money. Will replace when current bottle is gone 🥃🥃
For all the flak JW is taking, this is absolutely solid and cheap for what it offers. I completely agree with your descriptions, very lightly smoky and not amazing but just plain good whisky. My favorite JW too🙂
Stands leagues ahead of every other JW's in terms of quality and value. I enjoyed the silky texture of Blue but is just obscenely expensive. As soon as this appears under £30 again it is an instant purchase! Cheers!
Hi Vin , for a blended malt with a 15 age statement on the bottle and at 43% its a decent price (mid €30 where I live). I like it,had this way back but can’t remember if it was better then. Its definitely at some point a re-buy. Slàinte Vin
I find this to be a very interesting whisky for sipping neat, occasinally with a tiny drop of water. I find it hard to stop drinking it once I start. Fantastic stuff really but be careful if you're like me you might not be able to stop once you pop. No no that's crisps but you get what I'm saying I'm sure.
The JW 15 is a very special whisky to me because it makes me pick up diferent flavours almost every time I take a sip. Until now it,s my first blended malt even though I,ve tryed about 50 diffent single malts (all belove 100£). To me many of those tastes "better " and defenetly has more caracter. But ill argue about the complexity/ layers. Maby its because its the first blended malt I have tryed. ? I have to find out. ! I bought a botle of compas box orchard house to dig it out, funny enough right before the OSWA nominations . No kidding. Now its sold out where I use to buy . How lucky can one be? Happy whisky journey every one.
Reviewing a dram can be difficult, and I try not to compare a bottle to all the available bottles in the world, rather just comparing the value Vs experience of a singular bottle. Like you say, this changes frequently (a similar sensation to my layers) so I rate it well for its price. Hard to compare to quality single malts over £100 though, that's a different league
Disregarding price, between the Red all the way to Blue, my favorite is the 18, followed rather closely by the Green and Double Black. Other than the Red, I tend to find all the core range to be tightly choreographed in how much each bottle "improves" on it's immediately younger/cheaper preceding bottle. For me, the odd man out is actually the Gold as it's decidedly sweeter than the rest. As for the Blue, I'm rather hard pressed to call it even a half step superior to the 18. At least, according to my palette.
It`s a very good dram IMHO although I`ve only tried the Taiwanese version at 48%. Have you tried the peated version called Island Green? It`s none age-stated & I believe it was for duty-free only although some on-line sellers had it for a while, I really enjoyed that & would recommend it to you Vin.
Vin I really wanted to try this JW, but for the price it is I could be buying a Deanston 12yo or a Ledaig 10yo. Please try to convince to change my buying choices?
To be fair, I'm definitely not here to tell you this better than either of those. Both solid choices. But once you have them, why not try something else? This is a solid choice, and I don't say that lightly about JW
I am a fan of Johnny Walker blue and black .. i saw this had been re-introduced into to the market and i went out the first day it was released in my area and bought a bottle ( almost bought 2 as I thought it might sell out .. glad I didn’t) idid not get to taste the older versions but to be honest I was a little disappointed I guess because all the reviews I read and watched all say said that it’s amazing .. its good not great ..
This is one of those moments where I'm kinda glad I didn't get to try the old one so I'm pretty happy with it. Maybe one day I'll find an old bottle to comparison
£40 based on what’s in it, sounds very drinkable, especially for a 15yo and those headliner malts. Wait a minute am I praising Diageo… I think I need to lie down.
I'm not a fan of Johnnie Walker, just a fan of your reviews - if you raved about Cleveland Underground I'd still watch to the end! (Although I would be scratching my head and pulling funny faces in that case...)
Of the JW range, this is also my favorite. When I heard it was being discontinued back in 2011, I bought 2 cases and still have 6 bottles left. I compared the old with the new when it came out and although not as great as the old one, I still buy a new one every few years to see how it's doing. I'm about due for another head to head.
It's really cool that you have the ability to do these comparisons!
I have fond memories of JW Green Label 15 Yo in the early 2000s when I got into whiskies ....yes the flavour profile has changed but it's still my favourite blended malt. I love individual building blocks that make up this whisky
Also my favourite and still affordable. Every now and then I'll pick up a tasting pack on offer, just to walk the range. It's good to see if any of my preferences have changed, without committing to a full bottle. The Green just has better malt notes for me with enough sea salt or slight peat to keep me happy. Cheers!
It's definitely worth keeping up with the JW range. A lot of people bash them but they have some gems
“Oh dear” 🤭 After your review and the Scotch 4 Dummies’, it’s settled. If ever I see one of these, definite buy.
Also, happy birthday, Vin!
I dunno what it sells for over there but 100% give it a go. It's a tidy drop
The best JW and a very nice dram! Great to have as a every day dram without hitting the bank. cheers!
Absolutely. Best in class
Thanks Vin. This is the only JW I can honestly say that I enjoy after buying a bottle ~2years ago. I have had the blue but it has been so many years ago I can't remember much about it, only that it was pretty smooth and better than the red/black.
The Blue is fine, but it lacks punch and, I think, is overly thin on the mouth feel. For that price I expect spectacular and it just, isnt
There is also the Island Green (travel retail) which is NAS but meant to be more island forward.
Good tip, I'll look out for it
No doubt an underrated JW. You inspired me to crack open I bottle I have had for a while and enjoy a dram while watching this excellent analysis. Kanpai!
It's quality when you can drink along. Glad you enjoyed it Mac!
The best JW I have tried. Well worth it , especially if you can pick it up on offer at around £30 - £35 .
Getting a deal is super critical I think. Fine at RRP but it just feels nice to get it cheaper right
@@NoNonsenseWhisky absolutely ! Hopefully see it around that price in some supermarkets around Christmas time. Patience is the name of the game
Green is definitely the best from JW
💯
Enjoyed the review Vin. I really like this whisky, it's an easy drinker 😉 and agree it's great for the money. Will replace when current bottle is gone 🥃🥃
I think I might have to as well, although I feel like this bottle will be gone rather quickly if I'm not careful
For all the flak JW is taking, this is absolutely solid and cheap for what it offers. I completely agree with your descriptions, very lightly smoky and not amazing but just plain good whisky. My favorite JW too🙂
I guess they are a brand with such a wide range that each individual is bound to find one they hate sooner or later. But also one thats pretty good!
Stands leagues ahead of every other JW's in terms of quality and value. I enjoyed the silky texture of Blue but is just obscenely expensive. As soon as this appears under £30 again it is an instant purchase! Cheers!
Man if I see it under 30 it'll be an insta-buy
Hi Vin , for a blended malt with a 15 age statement on the bottle and at 43% its a decent price (mid €30 where I live). I like it,had this way back but can’t remember if it was better then. Its definitely at some point a re-buy. Slàinte Vin
Yeah it's breaking no one's bank this one. We'd all like a higher abv I'm sure but I'm happy with it at the cost as you say
Yesss, more JW please
Noted!
Platinum and green are my favorite JW.
I've yet to try the Platinum, I'll need to change that soon
I find this to be a very interesting whisky for sipping neat, occasinally with a tiny drop of water.
I find it hard to stop drinking it once I start.
Fantastic stuff really but be careful if you're like me you might not be able to stop once you pop. No no that's crisps but you get what I'm saying I'm sure.
I have no doubt this bottle is gonna get killed REALLY fast now that the review is done
It's my favorite blanded malt whisky , noting amazing but nice drink. P.S. sorry to my English )))
Exactly that! Decent taste, decent price. Winner
If you’re looking for this, Tesco is doing them for £35 (club card price) for 70cl 👍
The JW 15 is a very special whisky to me because it makes me pick up diferent flavours almost every time I take a sip.
Until now it,s my first blended malt even though I,ve tryed about 50 diffent single malts (all belove 100£).
To me many of those tastes "better " and defenetly has more caracter.
But ill argue about the complexity/ layers.
Maby its because its the first blended malt I have tryed. ?
I have to find out. !
I bought a botle of compas box orchard house to dig it out, funny enough right before the OSWA nominations . No kidding.
Now its sold out where I use to buy .
How lucky can one be?
Happy whisky journey every one.
Reviewing a dram can be difficult, and I try not to compare a bottle to all the available bottles in the world, rather just comparing the value Vs experience of a singular bottle. Like you say, this changes frequently (a similar sensation to my layers) so I rate it well for its price. Hard to compare to quality single malts over £100 though, that's a different league
Disregarding price, between the Red all the way to Blue, my favorite is the 18, followed rather closely by the Green and Double Black. Other than the Red, I tend to find all the core range to be tightly choreographed in how much each bottle "improves" on it's immediately younger/cheaper preceding bottle.
For me, the odd man out is actually the Gold as it's decidedly sweeter than the rest. As for the Blue, I'm rather hard pressed to call it even a half step superior to the 18. At least, according to my palette.
Can't disagree. The best of the JW range by a mile.
That perfect sweet spot in the range!
Undoubtedly the best JW without auctioning a kidney off, have you tried the Black Label 12yo Islay origin (blended malt)? It’s worth it for £30.
I haven't tried that yet! But it's firmly on my list to get
It`s a very good dram IMHO although I`ve only tried the Taiwanese version at 48%. Have you tried the peated version called Island Green? It`s none age-stated & I believe it was for duty-free only although some on-line sellers had it for a while, I really enjoyed that & would recommend it to you Vin.
Ah man, I'd love to try the 48% version!
I've not tried the Island yet but I hear good things so it's in my list
My favorite of JW...
Me too!
JWGL has been my favorite blended malt for years. Unfortunately, the price has skyrocketed, and it’s no longer a good value.
Vin I really wanted to try this JW, but for the price it is I could be buying a Deanston 12yo or a Ledaig 10yo. Please try to convince to change my buying choices?
To be fair, I'm definitely not here to tell you this better than either of those. Both solid choices. But once you have them, why not try something else? This is a solid choice, and I don't say that lightly about JW
I am a fan of Johnny Walker blue and black .. i saw this had been re-introduced into to the market and i went out the first day it was released in my area and bought a bottle ( almost bought 2 as I thought it might sell out .. glad I didn’t) idid not get to taste the older versions but to be honest I was a little disappointed I guess because all the reviews I read and watched all say said that it’s amazing .. its good not great ..
This is one of those moments where I'm kinda glad I didn't get to try the old one so I'm pretty happy with it. Maybe one day I'll find an old bottle to comparison
I had the red label one of these given to me once, wasn't much of a fan
I'm not surprised mate. It's rough as badgers arseholes
Paid 100 euros for this in greece, obv I was fleeced 😂
Oh that's atrocious. Hopefully youll enjoy it a bit more 😅
£40 based on what’s in it, sounds very drinkable, especially for a 15yo and those headliner malts. Wait a minute am I praising Diageo… I think I need to lie down.
🤣🤣 definitely a big old sleep needed
I'm not a fan of Johnnie Walker, just a fan of your reviews - if you raved about Cleveland Underground I'd still watch to the end! (Although I would be scratching my head and pulling funny faces in that case...)
🤣🤣 comment of the year so far.
😂😂