Johnnie Walker Blenders Batch Wine Cask Blend Review
When we checked in with Johnnie Walker before this year, they were hard at work on their Blenders' Batch. The series has some limited edition, experimental whiskies that pokes difficult at the safe cocoon around Scotch.
We're glad, and more than a little excited. Blended whiskies, too, can benefit from inventiveness- perhaps more so, because of the kind of freedom they enjoy compared to unmarried malts. There's a whole broad world waiting beyond single malts and sherry casks.
The new Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Vino Cask Blend is quite the statement in that direction.
Whisky and Rye
The starting time iii Blenders' Batch whiskies were the Cherry Rye Finish, the Triple Grain American Oak and the Bourbon Cask & Rye Finish (which we reviewed hither). Inspired by Master Blender Jim Beveridge's experiences in blending bourbon and rye in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1990s, at that place is a distinct whiff of Americana to them. Those whiskies each had a distinct character, and were equally dissimilar from a Scotch every bit a Scotch could go, for at present at to the lowest degree.
Jim Beveridge began the Blenders' Batch experiments over ten years ago, and his American experiment seems to accept run its course, for now. At the Diageo Reserve Globe Class 2017 in Mexico City earlier this twelvemonth, Diageo unveiled the Rum Cask Stop and Espresso Roast, which are coming soon(tm).
While we wait for those, though, the fourth expression, the Wine Cask Blend, has arrived in Singapore. Information technology was created by lead developer Aimée Gibson, who is part of the Johnnie Walker blending team.
In her hands, there is a perceptibly different signature to the new expression. While the previous expressions are robust, masculine even, the Wine Cask Blend has a more feminine, softer quality to it. Obviously, we are not talking solely most the packaging, which does have a nice rosy hue, simply about the liquid within.
Days of Vino and Roses
Using wine casks to stop whisky is non entirely new. Sherry casks take been used for the longest fourth dimension to both mature and end whisky. Experiments in finishing have yielded Port expressions and even Sauternes and Madeira sweet wine finishes. Even red wines have been played with before, such as in the Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Red Vino Finish.
The red wine finishes are, nevertheless, rarer than the fortified wine (sherry, port, madeira) ones, and this is especially so for blended whisky.
We did some sleuthing, and information technology seems at that place exists one other blended whisky which used ruby-red wine casks: the Old Perth Cask Strength Red Vino Finish. We believe this has much to exercise with blends existence viewed as inferior to single malts, which leads to less effort and inventiveness (read, cask finishing) being used on them.
To be sure, Johnnie Walker has non disclosed if that in that location were red wine casks used to make the new Blenders' Batch, much less which varietal of wine was in those casks. We only infer that from the flavours in the whisky, which has been described every bit fruity and berry-similar- characteristics of some cherry-red wines.
Nosotros are excited, of class. Role of it is due to our weariness of sherried whisky. As outstanding as they are, nosotros yearn for something new.
The bigger reason is our fondness for ruby-red wine and the sheer range flavours that one tin get from them. An Australian Shiraz volition likely take night berries and peppery notes, while a Burgundian Pinot Noir will have red berries, cherries and earth flavours. The green herb flavours of a Chilean Carménère, or a rosy Italian Barolo are equally distinct.
Compound that with variations in blazon of oak cask- American, French, Slovene, perhaps even Japanese Mizunara in future, and in that location's plenty of room for exploration.
Cream and Peaches
Having said all that, nosotros were looking forward to tasting the new Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Wine Cask Alloy. Jumping straight in…
Nose: Cream, vanilla, smoke is virtually besides faint to be perceptible. Sweet oranges, white peaches, rose petals and forest berries- lightness and tartness that doesn't really bring a typical Johnnie to mind.
Palate: Thick and rich, coating the tongue with buttery honey and marmalade. The vino makes its presence known towards the middle with flavours of raspberries and sugariness cherries. The center notes take a slight green apple tartness that seems a little out of place, but it passes very quickly. In that location is also a potent element of peaches, vanilla and cream that mellow the season towards the terminate.
Finish: Vanilla, cereal and pine, with some light spiciness and woods flavours to finish. Of medium length.
The all-time way we can recollect of to describe this alloy is to picture a French berry pastry defenseless in a Scotch bottle. A lovely afternoon tea whisky if there e'er was one; we suspect the right pairing might be strawberry shortcake.
Overall, the whisky is elegant and the whole combination of flavours feels very well-integrated. While discernible, none of them are out of step. While flavourful, the sense of taste profile is feathery light, so it never sits heavy on the natural language.
Summing it all Up
The whole point of the experimental serial was to push the boundaries, and Aimée Gibson has certainly done so here. Information technology's very different from anything else in the Johnnie Walker stable; if we didn't know better, we wouldn't guess that the walking human would be proudly emblazoned on the front of the bottle.
On its ain claim, we really loved the low-cal, creamy, fruity flavours of the Wine Cask Blend. There is a dreamy, soft quality almost it that nosotros don't often arrive spirits. If you're looking for big, assuming, peaty flavours, yous won't observe them here.
That's precisely the betoken. There's plenty of that style of whisky already, simply precious little on offering for those prefer a lighter touch.
Gibson set out to "make a blend that tin be enjoyed by all tastes, and especially past those people who might previously take thought that whisky isn't for them." We think she succeeded. Pour a glass for your more timorous friends and at that place'south a good run a risk that you'll find more than a few converts.
And the all-time function? Information technology'south going for a bargain price of $69. We suggest filling shopping carts with them.
Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Vino Cask Blend (70cl bottle) will be available at Cold Storage at $69.00. For more than data, you tin cheque out the website.
Source: http://highestspirits.com/johnnie-walker-blenders-batch-wine-cask-blend-review/
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