I was going to buy a bottle of Johnny Walker Green, but then I read this...

[WineGuy]

This guy seems to know a lot about Johnny Walker.

http://www.epinions.com/content_252716945028

"while Johnnie Walker Green Label is an excellent pure malt blend of whiskies that offers a rich, satisfying, delicious nose and flavour, it is still less than the sum of its parts – that is to say, if given the choice and price were not an issue, I would regularly select at least two of Green Label's constituent elements (definitely Talisker and Cragganmore, perhaps even Caol Ila – even at younger bottlings) over Green Label itself."

This review made me think that maybe it would be smarter to buy one of the scotch's that is put into JW.

He lists 4 of the 15 scotch's put in JW: Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore, and Caol Ila.

I have 2 questions. Does anyone know the other scotch's that go into JW? Secondly, are any of these single malts a good buy?

[mier]

I thought Clynelish,Cardhu and Glen Ord are in it as well.

Eric.

[AVB]

Besides the fact the four scotches listed are printed on the packaging I don't think he provides any insight into Green Label. It is his opinion and many differ, here is my review back in 2003 when it was still called "Pure Malt". As time has gone on I have become more fond of this and can easily recommend it to any Scotch drinker.

Does that mean I don't enjoy the components of Green Label individually? No, but a good blend is an art unto itself.

[Gov]

Johnny Walker Green Label is a very, very good vatted malt, period!! It is well worth the price of admission. To me, its complexity goes very deep and has a little of everything to offer. Do yourself a favor and atleast try a dram of this stuff, you won't be dissapointed!

[wadewood]

IMHO, JW Black is a pretty good blended Scotch. However, it is mostly grain (with very little flavor) whiskey. JW Green contains no grain whiskey, which I place as equivalent to straight bourbon. I have been meaning to buy a bottle of this to try. I have seen this around Houston for about $52.

[Gov]

IMHO, JW Black is a pretty good blended Scotch. However, it is mostly grain (with very little flavor) whiskey. JW Green contains no grain whiskey, which I place as equivalent to straight bourbon. I have been meaning to buy a bottle of this to try. I have seen this around Houston for about $52.

Well, yes, black label is a blend with grain in it, and green label does not have any grain. That said, I disagree with your assessment that black label has very little flavor. In my opinion, for a blend, it has a lot of flavor! Now with that said, I would take green over black any day!

[barturtle]

IMHO, JW Black is a pretty good blended Scotch. However, it is mostly grain (with very little flavor) whiskey. JW Green contains no grain whiskey, which I place as equivalent to straight bourbon. I have been meaning to buy a bottle of this to try. I have seen this around Houston for about $52.

I've been meaning to try this as well, I just keep hesitating when I look at the price and think "For a blend?". I need to burn "all malt" into my mind...

[boss302]

I thought Clynelish,Cardhu and Glen Ord are in it as well.

Eric.

If you research the distilleries owned by Diageo, you could come up with a few more. I definitely know Linkwood is in there.

I wouldn't be surprised to find Glenkinchie and Dalwhinnie in there as well...

Aside from those 4 malts, the rest are blended in mainly for body and texture, and in much smaller quantities...

JW Green, like all blends and vatted malts, focuses on consistency, making it a good "all around" pour. It's what I turn to when I can't make up my mind.

But, having said that, I do have to agree with the reviewer that, while JW Green is definitely an excellent dram, I would probably buy the Single Malt components, to give myself a little more variety.

The problem is, single-malt bottlings of Linkwood are almost IMPOSSIBLE to find, and I understand it is a fine, delicate dram, along the lines of Glenmorangie.

[ndfi78]

It really depends on if you are going to approach it with an open mind or not. It is a very good dram, definitely worth picking up IMHO. Very much worth picking up.

[wadewood]

Well, yes, black label is a blend with grain in it, and green label does not have any grain. That said, I disagree with your assessment that black label has very little flavor. In my opinion, for a blend, it has a lot of flavor! Now with that said, I would take green over black any day!

grain (with very little flavor) whiskey - I was referring just the grain element, not the finished product

[barturtle]

Wkipedia lists these as being owned by Diageo

Blair Athol, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Knockando, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Talisker, Mannochmore, Mortlach and Glenlossie (Blue is what Diageo lists as its Classic Malts)

Diageo's corporate report says they own 29 whisky disilleries in Scotland and says they announced in 2007 their intent to build another malt distillery in the north of Scotland...I can't find a full list of properties

[barturtle]

Okay add in:

Benrinnes

Brora

Dailuaine

Dufftown

Glendullan

Linkwood

Loch Dhu

Pittyviach

Rosebank

That takes us to 26, I'd guess they have three grain.

[Megawatt]

IMHO, JW Black is a pretty good blended Scotch. However, it is mostly grain (with very little flavor) whiskey.

I read that Black Label contains somewhere around 75% malt whisky, unlike most blends which contain around 25% malt.

[WineGuy]

So many choices and so little time! Maybe I'll give green a try but there are 10 bottles ahead of it on my to buy list. And there is always something new I discover that wants to get on the list.

[wadewood]

I read that Black Label contains somewhere around 75% malt whisky, unlike most blends which contain around 25% malt.

I heard JW Black was 60-65% grain whisky, but can not verify that with a written source.

[drrich1965]

I find JG Green VERy good stuff. I do not have notes for it, but found it both smooth and complex, a good deal of depth, and fairly full of charicter. It is one that is often very cheap in duty free (35 bucks for a liter the last time I was in South America). A sored it an 80, which means I would reccomend it.

As far as a vatted verses a single malt? It depends if you want to listen to the soloist or the orchestra....

[WineGuy]

I find JG Green VERy good stuff. I do not have notes for it, but found it both smooth and complex, a good deal of depth, and fairly full of charicter. It is one that is often very cheap in duty free (35 bucks for a liter the last time I was in South America). A sored it an 80, which means I would reccomend it.

If I could get a liter for $35 I would but it TODAY. It is $50+ for a 750ml a couple days ago when I was at Binnys.

[Gov]

I heard JW Black was 60-65% grain whisky, but can not verify that with a written source.

That is more like it. I would say about 35 to 40 percent malt.

[WineGuy]

here is my review back in 2003 when it was still called "Pure Malt".

Thanks for the link. I found many good reviews you posted.

[Megawatt]

I'd be interested to see how many people could pick out a good blend like Johnnie Black in a blind lineup with vatted and single malts...I'm not sure that I could...

[WineGuy]

I'd be interested to see how many people could pick out a good blend like Johnnie Black in a blind lineup with vatted and single malts...I'm not sure that I could...

I have not tried scotch so I don't know how much varience there is from distillery to distillery. But with the three bourbons I have (WT101, MM, and BT) I could identify them based on smell alone.

[AVB]

I just got some in January for $45/liter at duty free Moscow.

[Megawatt]

I have not tried scotch so I don't know how much varience there is from distillery to distillery. But with the three bourbons I have (WT101, MM, and BT) I could identify them based on smell alone.

Not that I have reason to doubt you, but have you tried this in a blind lineup? I think the results of such tests often surprise or even embarrass many people. I recall one test where many respondents couldn't differentiate between Scotch and cognac...

[Stu]

Not that I have reason to doubt you, but have you tried this in a blind lineup? I think the results of such tests often surprise or even embarrass many people. I recall one test where many respondents couldn't differentiate between Scotch and cognac...

Not with a blended scotch, but with a single malt, I'd take your challenge. There are also two members of this forum who are better than me.

Back to the original topic of the thread: JW Green is a vatted malt, not a blend. drrich statement about the soloist or the orchestra is a good analogy. If you can, go to a bar and try a dram of it along side of a dram of Talisker. For $50 +/- you can't go too far wrong. If you buy it , I'd suggest that you get a couple of the single malts as well and try it. I agree with AVB when he said that the flavor disappears. Personally, I like a long finish on my whisky.

[TomH]

grain (with very little flavor) whiskey - I was referring just the grain element, not the finished product

I know this is what is said at every scotch tasting or discussion of blended vs single malt (or vatted) and is true for most product, however there are some grains that have very good flavor.

Specifically, Compass Box's Hedonism is a vatting of 2 aged grains and is a nice light tasting scotch.

Tom