Johnnie Walker
The world's best-selling Scotch whisky, with a color for every occasion. Everything about the difference between the labels, the flavor, how to drink it and the right whisky glass.
A Scottish blend that has traveled the world for 200 years
Johnnie Walker is a blended Scotch whisky: a mixture of malt and grain whiskies from across Scotland. It began in 1820 as John Walker's grocery shop in Kilmarnock, where he blended whiskies himself to create a consistent flavor. His son and grandson turned it into a global brand, with the slanted labels and square bottle as trademarks.
Today, Johnnie Walker is the best-selling Scotch in the world and is owned by Diageo. The colors on the label indicate the style and age: from the spicy Red Label for mixing to the rare Blue Label for drinking neat. A hint of smoke is characteristic of the brand, coming mainly from the Islay malts in the blend.
In short
What types of Johnnie Walker are there?
The color says it all: the further along the range, the older and smoother the whiskies in the blend, and the higher the price.
Red Label
The entry-level bottle and the best-selling Scotch in the world. Peppery, spicy and lightly smoky. Made for mixing.
Black Label
The icon: whiskies aged for at least 12 years from across Scotland. Smoke, dried fruit and vanilla in balance.
Double Black
Black Label with more Islay whisky and more heavily charred casks. Darker, smokier and more intense.
Green Label
Malt whiskies only, aged for at least 15 years. Spicy, fresh and woody, with Talisker and Cragganmore in the blend.
Gold Label Reserve
Creamy and honey-sweet, with a hint of smoke. Also delicious ice-cold from the freezer, as the brand itself recommends.
Blue Label
The pinnacle of the range: a blend of rare, aged whiskies. Velvety smooth, full-bodied and with a long, smoky finish.
Red Label for mixing, Black Label for everything after that.
Smoky, fruity and smoothly balanced
Smoke, dried fruit & vanilla
A touch of peat smoke up front, followed by raisins, apple and sweet vanilla from the oak.
Round and slightly spicy
Smooth and full-bodied, with caramel, orange peel and a spicy, slightly hot note from the grain whisky.
Long and smoky
The smoke lingers longest, with some dry wood. Even more pronounced with Double Black.
Johnnie Walker Black Label flavor profile. Red Label is spicier and lighter, Double Black smokier, Blue Label smoother.
Three ways to drink Johnnie Walker
Blended Scotch is made to be versatile: neat, with ice or in a long drink. The glass determines how much smoke and fruit you taste.
Neat
Black Label or higher in a tulip-shaped tasting glass, 30 to 40 ml, at room temperature. A drop of water opens up the whisky and brings the smoke forward.
Glass: tasting glass →On the rocks
Black or Double Black over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler. The ice makes the whisky smoother; small ice melts too quickly and dilutes it.
Glass: tumbler →Highball
50 ml Red or Black Label with 150 ml of ginger ale or soda water in a long drink glass filled with ice. The way Johnnie Walker is almost always enjoyed in Asia.
Go to the highball recipe →The best cocktails with Johnnie Walker
Whisky Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar and egg white, shaken hard. Black Label adds a smoky edge.
Penicillin
Blended Scotch, honey-ginger syrup and lemon, topped with a layer of smoky whisky.
Rusty Nail
Scotch and Drambuie over ice. Two Scottish ingredients, one simple recipe.
Old Fashioned
Usually made with bourbon, but Black Label makes it drier and smokier. Sugar, bitters and an orange zest.The right glass for Johnnie Walker
A heavy tumbler for on the rocks, a tulip glass for tasting neat and a long drink glass for highballs. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Johnnie Walker
Can't find your question here? View our cocktail recipes or contact us.
To the cocktail recipes →