Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

I've been looking forward to reviewing a bottle of this for a long time. Why, you may ask? Well, it was this whisky that I hold accountable for me falling head over heels for all things Scotch (and whisk - e - y). In days gone by, where often the mere smell of most whisky could simulate a kind of gag reflex (ahem!), JWB was always a reliable and enjoyable 'end of the night' go to. Usually poured over a few ice cubes I distinctly remember one evening six or so years ago where, instead of simply tasting 'whisky', I could actually taste some of its nuances - toffee, something like liquorice (peat) and vanilla. Soon went the ice and then I tried Ardbeg . . .

I used to always have a bottle of this on the go and it was a Duty Free staple, along with 200 cigarettes. Thankfully, the latter habit has gone up in smoke but it's been a few years since my last bottle of this. So, how is it faring?

Bottle's been open a few months, half full. Review is neat but left twenty mins or so.

Nose - Very nice and fresh, classic, even. Peppery and slightly medicinal peat, buttery toffee, a little gingery tickle and, yes, there's a little hint of vanilla custard; but the grain notes, while more prominent than I recall, don't swamp things too much.

Taste - Silky, if light, mouthfeel. Black pepper again, liquorice and tangy peat with some maritime notes muddled in there. There is some toffee there as well but I do have to search for it. The grain notes show more towards the finish as vanilla and a little 'rawness'.

Finish - Reasonable length, for a blend, with more pepper, peat tang and some old tea bag at the death.

Perhaps not my greatest bottle but I'm thinking that's probably as much to do with my palate changing as anything in the blend. Although I do think this bottle leans more to the Talisker than I remember. So more peppery and coastal than I recall. Well, no bad thing is it? I hear you ask. Honestly, I feel the balance in this bottle is a little off and I'm missing that fudgy, toffee note that used to be very well integrated.

Still, for around £20 (if you shop around) this is still one of the best value blends out there and while I may hang fire on another purchase I'll still never turn a dram down. What I'd give to try a bottle of this from the 80's or even earlier . . .

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