Johnnie Walker 18
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
Abv: 40%

Nose
Musty, layers of caramel, hay and dark fruit. There are layers here, and they seem to stack neatly on top of each other. Fruit, smoke, malt… Another very rich feeling dram from JW. Butterscotch, threads of vanilla bean.

Palate
Rich and golden, some sweetness here, tempered with an oaken malt. Ethereal and light on the tongue, leaving trails of rich, sweet and malty flavours

Finish
Oily, lingering and sweet. Lingering butterscotch, faint fruit, barest threads of smoke.

Final Thoughts
Although this did not hit the same high notes as it did from my JW Blind Tasting night, this remains an excellent, top shelf dram in my books. Deep, rich, layered and so delightful on the nose. My second sip tonight was special – it seemed to dance up off my tongue and paint dabs of flavour through my mouth – ethereal! A fine finish that perhaps fades too quickly, but keeps the memory alive.

This would be a bottle I would put on my shelf, definitely. It’s on the pricey side, so unlikely to do so outside of a very special occasion. But knowing what it delivers, it makes my list of special buys at this price range.