Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old

Better than Blue

0 386

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

29th Sep 2013

0

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
    ~
  • Overall
    86

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Johnnie Walker is still the best selling brand in the world. It sells more bottles than all the single malts put together. Hence it is Diageo’s golden goose. But the Red Label is hardly a good blend. Maybe this Gold Label hits the right spot? After all, it is a blend of 15 single malts (with Clynelish in the lead), which have all matured for at least 18 years. It is no longer being produced since 2013.

The nose is rich and expressive, pretty floral and sweet. Loads of honey, dried fruit and a wonderful, albeit somewhat discreet, touch of smoke. Toasted oak. Maple syrup. Heather. A lot more complex than the Blue Label, which surprised me somewhat.

It is a bit oily (just shy of watery) on honey, pastry, dried orange peel with ginger and a pinch of salt. Nice oak. The peat is a bit more pronounced than on the nose and makes this one rather picture perfect.

The finish is medium long and smoky, with the emphasis on orange peel and honey.

This is the best modern Johnnie Walker I have tried so far. Move over, Blue Label! Pity that it is not being made anymore. Hopefully the Platinum is just as good? Thanks, Andreas.

Find where to buy Johnnie Walker whisky

Related Johnnie Walker reviews

Read more Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old reviews

3 comments

T
Taco commented

Yes, but is it better than Swing, which is much cheaper. I haven't had the Gold for a while, so I can't make a HTH comparison, but Swing works so well I haven't had the desire to spring for the Gold. If I remember correctly, they have a similar taste profile.

11 years ago 0

@McTeague
McTeague commented

Agreed. In a head to head tasting of the gold, green and blue, I much preferred the gold, and for the reasons you describe. And when I found out it was mostly Clynelish, I thought, well no wonder!

11 years ago 0

@mct
mct commented

Ive read news about this being stopped production, along with the JW Premier.

So far, ive been seeing new stocks on the shelves at china & other countries. Does this mean Diageo continues to produce this labels for the asian market, without being faithful to the original production factors of the small batch?

I think they are just fooling clients from the far east because phasing out the label will void their chances of making money. (even if the blend is already depleted)

9 years ago 0