In the Bottle 4.5/5
Johnnie Walker Red Label arrives in the typical square bottle shape, designed in 1920 by Alexander Walker. The shape is distinctive to the brand, and was designed to be ergonomic, allowing more bottles to be packed into a square area with less chance of breakage. A key aspect the bottle presentation is the slanted label which is is said to be tilted about 24 degrees off-center. The angled label was designed to catch the attention of shoppers when the bottle sat on the shelf next to the other whisky bottles.
As well, every bottle of Johnnie Walker Scotch features the Striding Man logo. Artist/Cartoonist, Tom Browne created the logo on the back of a menu card while at lunch with the Walker Brothers in 1908. The logo portrays a man walking forward, which has come to symbolize forward thinking and the pursuit for excellence for the brand. Diageo, the owners of the Johnnie Walker Brand have also created “The Striding Man Society” which is a members club for Johnnie Walker drinkers.
I find the presentation of the Johnnie Walker Red Label professional and appealing. My niggle with it is the metallic screw cap which provides an inferior seal, and is prone to stripping.
In the Glass 8.5/10
Colour: Amber
Legs: Droplets at the crest form slender legs
The initial aroma which rises into the breezes above the glass moderately complex with grain and fine oak spices accompanied by a light sweetness of butterscotch and hints of almond. There is a touch of boggy peat in the air and herbal notes which remind me of heather and menthol.
Aromas of malted barley and grain spice seem to have grow in strength as I nose the glass. These aromas have began to meld into the oak spice giving the dram a more robust character than I had anticipated. Sour apples, a light piny quality, winding almond and a sweep of vanilla round out the nose which has lost some of that boggy peat which I noticed when I first poured the dram.
In the Mouth 49/60
There is a touch of boggy peat accompanied by a ribbon of butterscotch, some spicy grain, hints of almond and a bevy fine oak spice. I seem to taste some light raisin-like flavours and other dry fruit implying that at least some of this blend was aged in sherry casks. Vanilla, that hint of almond, and a suggestion of corn indicates to me that bourbon casks have also found their way into the blend. Sour apple, canned peaches and orange peel give the blend an added fruitiness with some nutty barley, spicy ginger, and grassy tobacco completing my flavour descriptors.
Although the whisky seems to have a strong complexity, it is nevertheless a bit difficult to sip neat as the spirit has both a penetrating grain spice and honey-like sweetness which becomes cloying rather quickly. When I add a bit of ice to the dram, things are better and if you like a light punch of peat you will be happy to know that the cooling ice brings out a nice low draw of smoke.
In the Throat 11.5/15
Sipped neat the whisky has an herbal dryness combined with that penetrating grain spice and sweetness. The whisky becomes cloying quite quickly making the finish more enjoyable with the dampening effect of ice. Even better yet, add a splash of ginger-ale as well.
The Afterburn 8/10
Johnny Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky is a dram which is very complexity, but the whisky falls short in terms of balance. The pour improves with ice added, and is even better with a splash of soda-water or ginger-ale. Fortunately for the folks at Diageo, most persons prefer to mix their whisky with ice and soda which (I am sure) is the reason why the Red Label is so popular.
