Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old

Let me start by saying that my cabinet never goes for long without at least a JW black or green in it. There are other blends that I enjoy (the other staple in my cabinet is Ballantine's 17), but there's something distinctive about the JW flavour. It seems to be in the finish. The black, while perhaps less balanced and more peated than the green, still has that semi-harsh finish that could only be JW.

Nose is floral. Heather, brine, light honey, a hint of coffee, green apple, lemon, banana. and a series of other fruits seem to pop up. Strangely, I don't get much of the peat or wood notes that other reviewers tend to notice, they seem faint. Odd, given that Talisker and Coal Ila are half of the recipe.

Taste is salty, then fruity. Reasonably rich for a well priced blend. Bounces between sweet, sour, and even a little spicy. Hints of wood and smoke are here, but aren't nearly as strong as they are in the black. Vanilla and banana make an appearance toward the finish.

The finish is both good and bad. It's that distinctive, yet not entirely unpleasant, trademark honey/floral harshness that I seem to get with all the mid-level JW whiskies (haven't tried the high-end ones recently). Doesn't linger long. It's kind of a nice finish, given that it seems both rushed and semi-harsh. It's a good blend overall. I like the black and the green equally, but this is undeniably more sophisticated and balanced than the black.

Sidenote: Thankfully, while JW Green has apparently been pulled from the market in the rest of the world, Taiwan was spared this awful fate. This whisky can be found in abundance here. I'm not mentioning this to rub it in guys, but just letting you JW Green freaks out there know where you can still find a bottle!

Find where to buy Johnnie Walker whisky