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Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old

Viscous green apples, sweet and wood - nice

5 1083

RReview by @RikS

29th Nov 2018

0

Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    83

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Ever since I saw that JW Green came out on the market with some good reviews, I've been quite curious about it. And spotting a £26.50 deal on Amazon, I just couldn't resist. And, quite pleased I didn't.

On the nose I get very little smoke, despite this having both Talisker and Caol Ila (actually, I don't at all agree with the reference on the packaging to Caol Ila's 'maritime' nature, as I find it more dry soot and if anything would ascribe the maritime elements to the Talisker, but that's another story...). I do get malt, honey, and fairly dense sweet tones - in a nice way. A very faint peat. Some gren apple. Moist nut.

The palate is pleasuably viscous and oily. A slight bitterness. A bucket of green apples carry through from the nose. It's probably me, but I really cannot pick out much in terms of peat/smoke here - rather almost make me think of a 50/50 vatting between HP12 and Glenmorangie 10 (ok, happy to argue about that one). A bit wood tannic. Some pencil shavings. Nicely coating.

The finish is rather short though. Some sour bitterness, pencil and oaky tanning lingering on a bed of oily sweetness, but that's it.

Overall, this isn't half bad at all. If I want something nice and pleasurable that ain't demanding too much, I could just as easily go to this one as I'd HP12. I know JW has a bad rep, which means that I'm extra happy to have this one and wouldn't at all be opposed to have it as a "cheap but good staple" in the cabinet. Not sure I'd pick this one of all the £40-45 offerings, but as it seems to regularly come on sales: when it does, I can happily recommend you pick one up.

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10 comments

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

Worth £26 for sure! Nice buy. Nice dram.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@MadSingleMalt - Yeah I'd say so but my last bottle wasn't as good as the previous one was. Still, £26 for a 15 year old . . .

6 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

At just under $80 Canadian, this remains one of the few value for quality Scotches at the LCBO.

This is a whisky I like, but because I have such a large open cabinet I rarely open it, and given stable prices I made a tactical decision not to stock extra. I can see myself buying another when this gets low.

It's not a premium product, but when I want something to accompany company, a book, or watching TV, it's a great fit. Goes well with chocolate covered malt balls...beware!

It's like Kimchi. Great as an accompaniment, but I wouldn't choose it as the main focus all the time.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

R
RikS commented

@Nozinan I think that's a good way of putting it. A not of interest though is that my understanding of age statements is that there can be nothing younger than 15 years in this malt blend, and I presume that most, or at least many, of the individual expressions at 15 would carry a significantly higher price tag than the JW green?

PS: i do love kimchi

6 years ago 0

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

@RikS, you're right about the age statement reg, and I think you're probably right too about the prices we would expect to see on the likes of Talisker 15 and Caol Ila 15 OBs if they should happen to ever exist.

6 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@RikS I agree with your assessment of Caol Ila. I’ve always found its peat and smoke akin to dry leaves and twigs. That lovely green apple note also comes from Caol Ila. I’ve had the C.I. 12 year OB (43%), the 17 Year Unpeated CS, the 18 Year Unpeated CS, and a Gordon & MacPhail 10 Year CS, and that green apple note always shows up.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound wow, you've tried a lot of Caol Ila. Some would be jealous, especially that 17 YO and the G&M...

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Nozinan I’ve enjoyed each and every one. I regret not buying this year’s 15 Year CS, but I can’t buy every single whisky that catches my eye.

6 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound Looks like that 15 YO is the 2014 version - at least if the LCBO listing is accurate.

You're in luck. Guess who found a lone bottle sitting in a store in Calgary last December...so lonely...so discounted....

When I open it you'll have a chance to try it.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

W
Wierdo commented

Johnnie Walker gets a bashing from whisky fans I guess because it's owned by Diageo and because it's so marketed.

But I've always found the black and the green to be decent whiskies.

I wouldn't pay the normal £40 asking price for JWG as for that price I'd rather just have a bottle of Springbank or Benromach 10 yo. But anything under £30 is worth it.

£26 is a steal.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?