The Connoisseurs Induct Johnnie Walker as an Honorary Connoisseur
Recently, Connoisseurs Jon and Tom attended a Johnnie Walker tasting at the Cyclorama in Boston's South End at the
Once we got through the long entrance line, we were each given a drink token. I traded mine in for a healthy pour of Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks, while Tom got a mixed beverage of juice and Johnnie Walker Red. There were a few passed hors d’oeuvres, including steak tips and blue cheese-stuffed dried apricots with fig. They were a nice touch, but not as nice as our five-Scotch-tasting that followed.
We were led into an auditorium with many people, and every place was set with 3 of the 5 Scotches. There was a brief multimedia presentation with lots of bright colors and sounds, and then the master Scotch taster came out, who Connoisseur Tom aptly described as a Richard Karn look-alike. He went through the Scotches one at a time, talking about the nuances of each one, and we drank with him.
First was Johnnie Walker Black. This is a delicious blended Scotch whiskey with deep caramel and burnt sugar flavors, as well as other complex nuances. It is sharp on the tongue with the first sip, but it gets smoother with each additional sip. It is well-rounded and a very nice Scotch for whatever ails you, best with a little ice or just straight up, also known as “neat”.
The second Scotch was the Johnnie Walker Gold. The Gold was not waiting in front of us, but rather was served to us chilled. This Scotch was intriguing. It had quite a full mouth feel with some serious warming in the throat. It was very smooth and had nice buttery butterscotch flavors. This 18-year old Scotch whisky should be reserved for special occasions, as it fetches quite a price in the store.
The third Scotch was Johnnie Walker Red. The Red was made for mixing, and that is exactly what we did. There was a little bottle of ginger ale and another of cola, and we were encouraged to mix the Red with either, or both, sodas. I opted to drink it neat to taste the nuances. This Scotch was much lighter in body than the Black or Gold. It had spicy and smoky flavors, and wasn’t as refined as the other Scotches. I see why you’d want to mix it. As I prefer my Scotch neat, this was my least favorite of the five Scotches, though it was no slouch.
The fourth Scotch was Johnnie Walker Green. The green was also an interesting Scotch. This Scotch was less complex than the others, as it only has 4 single malts as opposed to the 40 or so of the Black. This Scotch was very herbal, with a mossy nose. The flavor was also nature-ridden, with flavors of autumn leaves and herbs. This was a more delicate Scotch, and definitely worth a try.
The fifth and final Scotch was Johnnie Walker Blue, the piece de resistance. It was also not in front of us, but served to us in snifters with a side of ice water. The blue was like drinking a thick cloud. I don’t know if I ever felt it touch my tongue, as it was more like a gas than a liquid, but it was still a full mouth feel. Its flavors were subtle a complex, though very enjoyable. If I were rich, I would only drink Blue, but at 300+ dollars a bottle, I’ll stick with my second favorite, Johnnie Walker Black.
All-in-all, this tasting was an enjoyable experience. Keep your eyes peeled for more Johnnie Walker tastings at johnniewalker.com, and start your Scotch whisky journey. In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, “I love Scotch.”