Johnnie Walker's most prestigious whisky. Probably THE most famous super-premium blend, made up of the finest old-aged malt and grain whiskies. The Cristal of the blended whisky world.
The packaging for JW Blue was updated in 2011, although the whisky itself is unchanged, sitting unchallenged at the top of the Johnnie Walker pile. Web-Exclusive Price!BESPOKE ENGRAVING SERVICE AVAILABLE!
Nose: Smooth, silky cereal, syrupy flapjacks, polished oak. Dessicated coconut, then other nutty notes: unsalted peanut, brazil nut.
Palate: A silky caress. Unexpectedly strong spicy entry, but always honeyed and rounded by some toasty oak. The honeyed malt is beautifully interwoven around the venerable grain, which must be absolutely ancient.
Finish: A perfectly-integrated slow fade of the palate. Mouthwatering grain, and the honey and spices fade slowly. Extremely long but still very gentle.
Comment: The daddy of premium blends divides fans as to whether or not it merits its price tag, but there is definitely something esoteric about the basically flawless balance on display here. Smoother than a hot-buttered, freshly-shaven diplomat in velvet trousers.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous looking product and excellent service from The Whisky Exchange - I ordered this as a birthday present, it arrived very quickly and the engraving service makes it a very special gift.
If it tastes even half as good as it looks it will be fantastic!
- anonymous, 9th Nov '11
smooth & silky. nice in taste good in smell.
- hitesh narang, 28th Oct '11
What a beautiful looking bottle!
- Grant, 25th Oct '11
Just received this today, beautiful packaging and I just know my boyfriend is going to love it and appreciate it. Probably be a bit scared to drink it though because of the price!
- Jessica, 4th Oct '11
I had very high expectations of this whisky and I feel that it falls quite short of the mark... This whisky looks good, it smells good but is just lacking something on the palate and finish. Personally, I prefer the Black and Green label from JW. Also, I don't understand why people have this gripe against blended whisky, surely all that matters is that it tastes good? I know of various blends that blow a lot of single malts out of the water!
- Tom G, 2nd Jul '11
Got this as a gift from a dear friend and colleague. I cannot comment on its taste against the cost, but I can say that there is an immense amount of character for three principle flavors: oak, pepper, and vanilla. Fiery at first and a long-but-tremendously smooth finish. Held up superbly against my personal yardstick of a Macallan 18 yr. Won't mature in the bottle appreciably, so pop the top and enjoy!
- Christian, 10th Jun '11
i found this a little dissapointing to be honest. its nice dont get me wrong but for the money i can find better blends. id put chivas regal 25 yr old way above this.
- quaid, 23rd Feb '11
Mal B, whisky is considered to have finished ageing when it coems out of the cask and into the bottle - but soem aficionados will swear that there is an 'old bottle effect' that is noticeable on the flavour of bottles of whisky that are more than thirty or forty years old. It's a bit of a grey area, but I'm sure your whisky will be amazing (forgot to say a lot of people really like Old Bottle Effect).
- TWE Admin, 8th Feb '11
i like a good single malt and was dubious about the blue labal as its a blended, needless to say i was amaized. buying one now.absolutly the best whisky to have with a fine cuban.
- Rory, 3rd Feb '11
bought a bottle in 1996. still sat in my wardrobe unopened. daughter refers to it as her inheritance. will it improve with age?
- Mal B, 28th Jan '11
I had a bottle of this two and a half years ago, made most of weak dollar on way back from Cancun! I had my first taste from a whiskey glass with a single cube of ice placed in centre. It was the first time I truly felt like I had actually tasted whiskey, the flavours are intense, the blend great, smooth, warm and fiery. To a novice like me it was like the nectar of the gods!
- Dean, London, 10th Jan '11
Expected it to taste like a bag of mixed nuts but very surprised to discover it tasted of whisky. Very nice whisky, perhaps a tad sweet for my taste. In summer, the flavours really shine when enough spring water (don't use tap: including ice!) is added such that the fire on the palate slightly turns to cream. Delicious.
- Andy, 25th Dec '10
Well... it is not bad, you can drink a lot of it. It's quiet tasty and rich, balanced.. but for this price tag.. I'd rather go for some old vintage single malt..
- Povilas, 14th Dec '10
The only way to drink this whiskey is to rinse mouth out first with iced water then enjoy
- Terry Dugdale, 12th Dec '10
It is nice, but its mainly an immense malt on tongue combined with a pure alcohol taste floating throughout. All good if that's your thing (and I'll happily add blue label to my collection if someone else buys it for me) but I'd look to Middleton Rare for value for money... However, taste, like beauty, is in the eye (or in this case, tastebuds) of the beholder ;)
- Luke, 7th Dec '10
Its smooth as silk going down the throat
- anonymous, 3rd Nov '10
Whisky snobs hate this blend, reason enough to pay the price and enjoy this Beautiful whisky.
- Randy Rawding, 23rd Oct '10
Had it Drank It LOVED IT!
- anonymous, 29th Sep '10
Drank this out at restaurant this evening. Fantastic. Softer than a Lagavulin but a full- bodied taste that lingers. Great spiced flavours.
