Johnnie Walker Double Black
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 40%

These notes from the second half of a taster bottle, the other half having been wonderfully used in a Johnnie Walker Blind Tasting event.

Bottle Notes
A blended whisky created in the style of Johnnie Walker Black Label, with a rich, more intense, smokier flavour.

Nose
Quite a bit of rich fruit to start with a light bed of vegetal. I honestly don’t get anything that I would call smoky. Maybe a barest hint of a stale smoke, but that’s a stretch. Tonight it does hit the nose with some intensity. Okay, coming back to the nose after a sip, the smoke seems to be here now. This is an interesting one, may need a slow, leisurely dram to fully enjoy it.

Palate
Rich lively fruit, now I do get some of that smoke on the tongue, nicely received. I’m a bit surprised at the rich, fruity mouthful – it’s quite bold and not as I remembered it from the blind tasting night (although it would have been lost in the lineup I’m sure). Full, boisterous flavour, a hint of spirit creeps in, but not distracting.

Finish
Nice, slightly oily mouthfeel, carries the rich fruitiness and faint smoke along. Quite alright.

Final Thoughts
Well, not sure I’d call this one a proper tasting, but since it’s the first time in years I’ve had any drop of it on the shelf, I thought I’d try for a tasting note. It would have been better to take the full sampler bottle vs. the half I had for this night. Also likely would have benefited from more time to explore than I gave it tonight.

Overall, pleasantly surprised by the Double Black. After the tasting night, I found it less smoky than the Black, and not terribly distinctive. Tonight, I definitely got a sense of it’s character. The first sip was a lovely, rich and intense fruit bomb, and the smoke came in right after it.

Worth an exploration, I would say. At or near the same price of a Black Label, I would mix it up with a Double Black if I was to reach for an affordable Johnnie Walker.