Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old (purchased 1979)

@talexander, I was hoping that you'd like this 1979 JW Black Label as much as I have. As for oxidation of the whisky, the bottle from which this sample originated has been open for 2 years and 2 months. It was gassed about a year ago, and decanted maybe 6 months ago. I am sure it has lost a little bit of its qualities from the time when it was immediately opened, but I think that it is still pretty close in quality. I am delighted that you reviewed this one, and even more pleased that you enjoy it greatly. Thanks for your nice review.

Thanks @Victor. Yes, oxidation might have caused a bit of an effect, but really it wasn't open (without being gassed) for that long. It's is a gorgeous scotch. It's obvious (to me, anyway) that they used far more sherry casks then than they do now, and likely also used more casks that were much older than twelve years. Also there was clearly a much higher malt content then than there is now. Finally, one other note: today, Lagavulin is only bottled as a single malt, and is no longer used in Diageo's blends (nor anyone else's) - the demand for the standard 16 year old is too high. But back then, Lagavulin was a key component in JW Black, and tasting them side by side I can certainly detect the Laga influence!

Yes, I find the wine casks used in that batch to be striking and absolutely gorgeous. I was surprised when I didn't see you speak about them in the body of your review. Also, yes, it does appear to have a higher malt content than the current JW Black. I'll have to do a side by side comparison to observe the Lagavulin.

Read my prior review of the 43% mini - everything I say there applies to your bottle. I didn't want to repeat myself too much in my review of your bottle because they were pretty much identical. In my review of the 43% mini I mention the sherry cask influence and some more detailed notes, which 100% apply to your bottle.

How I wish I could sample some vintage JW Black--and some older Red Label as well. I've only heard positive things about both, providing they're of pre-mid-'80s vintage.

Quick personal anecdote: when my father passed away in 1974, he left behind a cabinet full of JW Reds and Blacks, most of which he purchased in the 1960s. I was 19 when he died, and I couldn't have cared less about whisky at the time. Knowing my teetotaling mother, she probably just threw them out. I could cry.

Wonderful review, as always, @talexander.

Thank you, @WhiskyBee! If you are able to ask your mother, go ahead - who knows, she may have kept them locked up somewhere??

@talexander: Well, Mom passed away in 2011, so that might be a challenge. We're talking a woman who refused to eat rum cake or anything made with cooking sherry. Believe me, those bottles were long gone. She accepted Dad's moderate drinking, however. There were also a few bottles of Canadian Club and Seagram's VO in his cabinet. How I wish he was around today so I could introduce him to single malts!