How do people drink Johnnie Walker Red Label?

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Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I'm not an expert by any means. I'm not one of those people who can tell you the difference between brands and ages.

But I just started drinking Scotch, and I've had several of the famous names (Chevas 12 yr, Chevas 21 yr, Glenfidditch 12, Dewar's, Glenlivet 12, Lagavolin). So far, I prefer Glenlivet, and can enjoy most of the others. But this Johnny Walker red is horrible.

I can enjoy it somewhat if I put an ice cube in the shot glass and let about half of it melt in.

Why do people buy this stuff? At least to my taste, the difference between this and Glenlivet is HUGE. I know a lot of people who drink Johnny Walker black label. Is there a lot of difference?
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
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Sure there's a difference between black and red. Black has a smokier, smoother taste, but they are both blended whisky. You drank single malt before, so understandably you see a difference.
 
R

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,194
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The Chevas Regal 21 yr was very smooth, and it's blended. I know there's a difference between blended and single malt, but it's a difference in smoothness, as I understand it.

I would assume JW black would be smoother, since it's aged longer. But there's more to it than that. I guess I just don't like that brand.

I'm still in the experimental stage. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm about to pour another shot of my current favorite - Glenlivet 12yr.
 
pyonir

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,855
319
126
You haven't tried The Macallan yet?? That's my favorite brand.

I feel the same as you do about Dewar's.
 
R

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I haven't tried Macallan. It's almost twice the price of the Glenlivet. I did try the Laphroaig at my friend's house. It is an acquired taste, and I haven't acquired it yet. Isn't that the one that was allowed into the country during prohibition because they claimed it was medicinal?
 
T

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I'm not an expert by any means. I'm not one of those people who can tell you the difference between brands and ages.

But I just started drinking Scotch, and I've had several of the famous names (Chevas 12 yr, Chevas 21 yr, Glenfidditch 12, Dewar's, Glenlivet 12, Lagavolin). So far, I prefer Glenlivet, and can enjoy most of the others. But this Johnny Walker red is horrible.

I can enjoy it somewhat if I put an ice cube in the shot glass and let about half of it melt in.

Why do people buy this stuff? At least to my taste, the difference between this and Glenlivet is HUGE. I know a lot of people who drink Johnny Walker black label. Is there a lot of difference?
Click to expand...

I dont touch anything below Johnny Walker Green for sipping neat. With that said, my favorite so far is Lagavulin. Second is Glenfiddich 18. I cannot stand Laphroaig. Glenlivet is ok, but if given the chance, Id take Glenfiddich of the same year first.
 
R

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Agree with you, Tiamat, except my taste varies just a bit. I prefer Glenlivet over Glenfidditch of the same age.
 
T

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
Agree with you, Tiamat, except my taste varies just a bit. I prefer Glenlivet over Glenfidditch of the same age.
Click to expand...

both glenlivet 12 and glenfiddich 12 make great Rusty Nails (add 1 splash or slightly more of Drambuie). That happens to be my fav. mixed drink at the moment - pretty tasty stuff.
 
dug777

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Buncha alcoholics in this thread....

;)
Click to expand...

Enjoying a quiet tipple does not an alcoholic make ;)

Infinitely less likely to do you any damage than drafting behind road trains too...
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,602
13,980
146
You haven't drank Scotch until you'be drunk Scoresby...:p

IIRC, that stuff is about $8.00 for a 5 gallon bucket...and you get to keep the bucket. :D

ALL Whiskeys are an acquired taste and Scotch is no exception. Blended whiskeys all have their place. They take a bit of the best, blend it with a bit of the not-so good and end up with a mediocre whiskey that's affordable. Blending also tends to smooth whiskies out in the process.

Twas a time when I drank a LOT of Whiskey...Scotch for many years, but I got tired of getting to fights all the time. Scotch, for some unknown reason, always made me want to fight. Didn't matter who or what...hell, enough Scotch and I'd have picked a fight with a bulldozer...I drank somd single malts when I could afford to, but they were just too dammed expensive to guzzle in quantity, and I wasn't a social sipper. Johnnie Red was ok, but a bit on the harsh side. Johnnie Black was quite a bit smoother, and had a nice peat taste. Chivas was ok, but IMO, just ok.
IIRC, I still have about half a fifth of Johnnie Walker Black in my liquor cupboard from a Christmas party we had in....2001 or so. I don't drink, so along with 3-4 1.75's of other booze, it sits in the cupboard..."aging"...(twas a time when I "believed" that once you opened a bottle, you HAD to drink it all, otherwise it would spoil over night...or maybe that was just a justification for drinking it all!)
I still like the smell of good Scotch. I just can't drink it anymore.

I switched to Canadian whiskey which (for what ever reason) didn't have that effect on me, and ended up drinking Crown Royal almost exclusively until I quit drinking in 1995.
Bourbons and Tennessee Whiskey make me sick...maybe it's from a case of alcohol poisoning I got one time when I over drank some Bourbon Supreme <barf>
 
C

CorCentral

Banned
Feb 11, 2001
6,415
1
0
Chivas 12yr and PINCH 15yr...... If they have neither, I drink J&B.

About Pinch
Established is 1627, the oldest distillers of scotch whisky in the world. Few whiskies attain the rate distiction of the Dimple Pinch. Over 300 years of distilling and blending experience have ensured the perfection of this most distinguished deluxe scotch whisky. Savor the elegant taste of a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies that is as special as the unique dimpled bottle that holds it.
 
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