Whats the difference in these two types of whiskey?!
Answers: at my liquor store we just started carrying samplers of johnnie walker that has a pint of red label, a pint of black, a pint of gold and a pint of blue. i know that the black label has been distilled more which is why its a little bit more expensive but is that the only difference among them? i asked my boss and he hates the stuff so he has never had it. he always assumed it was the distillation process that made them different. do they all taste the same or whats the real difference in them? we sell a bottle of blue label for $275 so thats pretty pricey..ive never had it so i dont know anything about it but my best friend loves the stuff but has only had the red and black label..he didnt even know they made gold or blue..please help
Standard blends
* Red Label — a blend of around 35 grain and malt whiskeys. 80 proof. 40% ABV.
* Black Label — a blend of as many as 40 whiskeys each aged at least 12 years. According to William Manchester, this was the favourite Scotch of Winston Churchill.[5] 80 proof. 40% ABV.
* Johnnie Walker Swing — named for the distinctive bottle, in which an irregular bottom allows it to rock back and forth. It was Alexander II’s last blend: it features a high proportion of Speyside malts, complemented by malts from the northern Highlands and Islay, and is "almost as sweet as a bourbon."[6]
* Green Label — a vatted malt whisky that consists of a blend of about 15 individual single malts, the signature malts being Talisker, Cragganmore, Linkwood, and Caol Ila – Aged 15 years. 86 proof. Previously sold under the name 'Pure Malt'.
* Gold Label — a rare blend of over 15 single malts, including the very rare Clynelish malt. It was derived from Alexander II's blending notes for a whisky to commemorate Johnnie Walker's centenary[citation needed]. His original efforts were thwarted by a shortage of these malts following World War I. Gold Label is commonly bottled at 15 or 18 years. 80 proof. 40% ABV
* Blue Label — Johnnie Walker's premium blend. Every bottle is serial numbered and sold in a silk-lined box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. There is no age declaration for Blue Label. 86 proof.
* Red & Cola – a premix of Red Label and cola, sold in cans and beer-bottle like bottles. This product has also been marketed under the names "Premix" and "One".
its amazing whats available these days!
Look at the bottles I think it is how long they have been aged, or how many years.
the only REAL difference is in the distilling process and time, they all taste similar but the higher priced is a little smoother as it has been distilled for longer.
there can be some difference in the ingredients for eg finer quality products in the aged whiskey than in the cheaper fast brewed product.
try them all one night see which one tastes better :O)
Whiskey and the derivates (Scotch and co) is an Art in itself.
There are a lot of differences, deriving from distillation, time of storage (they store a whiskey for example for 25 or 30 years and then offer it as a special one for a lot of money, it's a little like with wine)
In case of Johnnie Walker (not one of the really good scotches that are around imho)
Red Label: a normal scotch whiskey from Johnnie Walker
Black Label: A blend from 40 different scotch whiskey and at least aged for 12 years.
Gold Label: a rather rare blend of 15 single malts, including the very rare clynelish malt, it's aged at least 15 or 18 years.
Blue Label: a premium blend, every bottle has a serial number and it derives from very rare maltts. There is no age declaration and of the johnnie walker scotch family it's the one with the most alcohol (about 43%)
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There are even some rare scotches that have a chocolate aftertaste, or slight sweet taste, in the world of the Art of Scotch Whiskey, there are a lot of different ones out there, all with different tastes and aftertastes (the taste you taste after you swallowed most of it)
Red Label — a blend of around 35 grain and malt whiskies. 80 proof.
Black Label — a blend of as many as 40 whiskies, each aged at least 12 years. According to William Manchester, this was the favorite Scotch of Winston Churchill. 80 proof.
Green Label — a vatted malt whisky that consists of a blend of about 15 individual single malts, the signature malts being Talisker, Cragganmore, Linkwood, and Caol Ila – Aged 15 years. 86 proof.
Gold Label — a rare blend of over 15 single malts, including the very rare Clynelish malt. It was derived from Alexander II's blending notes for a whisky to commemorate Johnnie Walker's centenary. His original efforts were thwarted by a shortage of these malts following World War I. Gold Label is commonly bottled at 15 or 18 years. 80 proof.
Blue Label — Johnnie Walker's premium blend. Every bottle is serial numbered and sold in a silk-lined box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. There is no age declaration for Blue Label. 86 proof.
first of all these are scotches, the longer it sits in the barrel the smoother the scotch, i think blue lable is like 50 years old very expensive but worth it you can find it.
I think Mr. knowitall has spent too much time with Mr. Johnny Walker, however he is right on the money.
Johnie Walker goes up in price the longer it is aged in the barrel, as is true with most Scotches.
Just to clarify a small point... The length of time it is distilled for is not the REAL issue, although a column distilled spirit is produced much quicker.
Blends contain grain whisky, usually made from corn. It is produced in column stills and does not have the flavour of malt whisky, which is usually made in pot stills - a slower process.
Blends are usually a mix of malt whiskey and grain whisky. The grain adds a creamyness to the mixture. People usually say that blends are not as good as malts, but this is not always the case. Sometimes this is true, but only because producers don't use their best malt in the blend.
Ageing adds subtelty to a whisky. It is like a mini distillation process in itself. And the longer whisky is stored in a cask, the more it evapourates - so the rarer it is. However, a whisky can be ruined by ageing it too long - as it can eventually just taste like wood.
Anyway, I've gone a bit off the point. The Johnnie Walker range is excellent. The Black is superb, even though it's a blend. I believe the Red label is the biggest selling whisky in the world.