Johnnie Walker John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend

It's no secret that I have a wee soft spot for JW. So, after hearing that this 200th anniversary bottling was a recreation of their original White Label blend, and that it was pretty good stuff, I went out and bought a few bottles. I could only hope I liked it ...

Review is neat and sat for ten mins or so. Bottle has been open a few months and is just over half full.

Nose - prickly, but in a good way. Lots of toffee and marzipan, a little hint of peat in the background, some raisins, and a wee herbal note. Touches of rhubarb and grapefruit, that I sense are coming from the grain, black pepper and a delightful nuttiness. An excellent nose that would give many a malt a good run.

Taste - fruity and sweet arrival, with more raisins, nuts and marzipan. Black pepper and peat as it develops. The grain complements the malts here and is no passenger.

Water makes the mouthfeel more juicy and brings out more pepper and peat.

Finish - Quite long for a blend. Toffee, pepper and a little nip of peat hang in there.

A superbly put together modern blend that really shines at this abv. Ticks all my boxes and balances the sweet, nutty and spicy/peaty notes really well. The nose is where this really shines and it is getting better with air. I believe this is around 8 years old but is without an age statement - and I suspect there's some Mortlach in the mix but could be wrong, that nutty note is sublime.

It's amazing what Diageo can do at times, good and bad; but this is a star, it really is, and shows how good blends can be.

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