Johnnie Walker Red Label

 

Not that I'm a snob, or an expert, but I usually drink/buy single malts. Johnnie Walker was on special offer in the supermarket (there's a surprise, me buying whisky that was on offer 😉 ) and I thought I'd give it a go, I've bought it in a pub a couple of times and liked it.

I guess it's the Glenfiddich of blended whiskies, as it's probably the most famous blend, and I'd guess like Glenfiddich a household name when it comes to whisky. They say it's the most popular, and like Glenfiddich I guess that may be true because, well, it's nice. That's it, it's nice neat, or with a mixer. There's nothing wrong with it, but there's nothing special about it, it's safe. I'd drink it again, but I doubt I'd buy a bottle again, it's just a nice whisky. It's smooth, there's next to no burn, it tastes of vanilla, spice, sort of like whisky should I guess. You can add a mixer to it, that's fine, tastes like whisky and lemonade "should".

If it's on special offer, it may be worth having in the house for when you fancy a drink, or have guests, but if you want to experiment with blends then shops like Lidl or Aldi do more interesting/better value for money bottles.

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple Liqueur

Wouldn't be my normal choice of drink, but it was on special offer, it sounded interesting, I remember enjoying apple schnapps (Apfelkorn) in Germany many years ago, so decided to give this a go, even though I'm not a massive fan of normal JD.

It's very nice! Quite sweet, sort of toffee apple, smooth, too easy to drink, and that's neat! Usually I drink whisk(e)y neat, measure myself a double, and sip at it over an evening, and enjoy it, just the one. I was quite surprised the following morning when I realised how much of this I had drunk in one evening, it's quite moreish, but on the plus side didn't give me horrible hangover 🙂

There's not much more to say really, it's 35% and taste of apples, rather than JD, which in my book is good. I did try it with lemonade as well, which was fine, but a mixer in my opinion isn't necessary and doesn't add anything, just removes some of the pleasant green "appleness" of it! Perhaps it's better with soda water or a premium tonic.

Glen Scotia - Classic Cambletown Malt - Single Malt - Double Cask

I bought this, as it was reduced in M&S, I'm beginning to warm to it, my first impression wasn't great, vanilla, not too spicy, hint of pepper, or is that the salt spray?

It lacks body, it's strong at 46%, but is sort of watery? On the plus side, the vanilla is quite strong, so it's sweet and very smooth, very little burn, not sure if that's good or bad?

Perhaps it's the slight smokiness I find off putting? It's not peaty, (I don't like peaty whisky), but there's something I'm not sure about!

I don't dislike it, and I'm glad I bought it, nice to try something different, but I won't buy it again.