Johnnie Walker Double Black

Whisky: Johnnie Walker Double Black NAS, 43%
Producer: Johnnie Walker & Sons, Scotland
R290 ≈ £23

Initially released in early 2010 to only several international duty-free stores, this more peaty/smoky version of the standard Black Label subsequently made its way into a wider range of duty-free locations after successful tests, and now looks to have found it’s permanent place among it’s Johnnie Walker siblings in any well-stocked bottle store.

Nose: At first a robust grain and oak sweetness. There is peat smoke here but not what one would expect given the positioning of this whisky- very light. Lots of BBQ sauce (the authentic American kind) cooked to a sticky coating over a rack of meaty ribs – well, it was right here, where’d it go? Grilled fruit kebabs now. I want that BBQ again!

Taste: As you have to expect from JW this is smooth and very palatable (read: drinkable). The smoke is more concentrated now but still no where near a peat monster. Wood spice, the toasted wood kind. A bit of zing near the end but overall very well composed.

Finish: Smoking pineapple with a weak chili powder and spice rub. Sticky BBQ returns but more sweetness and less meat. Definitely more smoke here than previously experienced, but always tamed.

My Score: 83

The finish is my favourite part of this whisky with the sticky pineapple and BBQ a delectable duo. If the BBQ sauce on the nose was less elusive I’d up the score by at least another two points. If you like peat this will be easy and enjoyable drinking. Well balanced, and a strong contender for the star of the JW range.

Other Scores: Couldn’t find any