Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

Nose: Honeyed oats, malty with creamy vanilla, toffee popcorn and a touch of gingerbread. A herby note punches through. Really pleasant.

Palate: Sweet, smooth caramel fudge. Butterscotch. Quite waxy with honey and vanilla coming in waves.

Finish: This finishes more on the heavier side of things with sticky fruits (maybe a bit of trifle?) and faint woodsmoke.

Overall: A really well balanced blend from the House of Johnnie Walker. Something to crack open with friends on a summer’s evening and pass around whilst the sun goes down.

Nose: Fudge notes, drying sherry, dried prunes, vanilla and heather honey. Water brings notes of classic light Walker smoke and candied fruit. So far, so good.

Palate: Initially very light, with vanilla and waxy honey (the influence of Clynelish is still really apparent.) Given time, the blend really begins to open up with a distinct smokiness and a slightly thin grainy note. With water, the grains show themselves a little more, followed by sliced apple and more of the Clynelish waxiness.

Finish: Lingering smokiness and a touch of dried fruit.

Palate: Luxuriously smooth, creamy and delicately honeyed with lingering waves of wood, fruit and light, sweet smoke. A multi-layered blend of sweet fruits and creaminess that evokes deeper honey tones

Finish: Lingering waves of wood and light west-coast smoke.