whisky review 243 - Johnnie Walker Blue Label
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ม.ค. 2012
- ... this classic Scotch gets an experienced drinker's appraisal of it's intrinsic quality.
To comply with Google Adsense policy this video is an independent non-profit review and is not selling or linking to a site that sells the product being reviewed.
Could we get a re-review for 2021? Would be interested to see if there is any change in quality in your opinion.
was thinking of getting a bottle to try but thing ill grab a couple bottles of ardbeg instead
But why, it will always be OK. You buy the label not the content. It is about the marketing costs not the ingredients and the taste... as Ralfy rightly said. I would suggest getting some Japanese blends if you like it very smooth. They should be better than the blue label... but there is maybe not that much prestige coming with a Nikka when showing it around to BBQ party guests that don‘t have a clue about whisky. For this occasion one wants the big brands to show off and for the Blue Label everybody will have at least a price tag in mind 😉
Oh Ralfy, thank you so much for posting these. All my life I hated scotch, all I'd ever had was blended whiskeys and always thought they were vile. Then by chance I went to a local scotch bar for dinner here in St. Louis, 'The Scottish Arms'. The waiter suggested a dram of Gglenmorangie finished in a burgundy cask, my first single malt, and I became an immediate convert. It's great to find a place where I can get the straight dope as it were from such an authentic and entertaining gentleman.
I feel like blue label is one of those things that people pull out at parties to impress people they don’t really like.
Agree, and the product placement in films etc really shows what it is. I've a bottle from my early days of whiskey drinking and there's a confusing mix of whiskeys going on in the bottle in my opinion and its fairly bland after it drops off. Any Bowmore or Laphroig from a supermarket is a better buy I rekon
Michael Jamieson lol
Couldn't have said it better myself
@@williammacneill956 q
It's a shame as well, because it gives people a bad impression of the brand or of blends in general. I was very anti JW and against the concept of blends. But recently someone gave me a few drams from a bottle of their Blue Label Ghost & Rare collection (the port ellen one). It was simply one of the finest whisky's i'd tasted at that point, and remains a highlight. So much so that I had to go out and buy myself a bottle.
That said, Having recently tried Red and Black label in local bars, I found them utterly uninspiring. So I guess as with monkeys and typewriters, they're bound to get it right once in a while ;)
outstanding review. the last few minutes where you expound on the pros and cons of what super brands bring to the table was refreshingly thoughtful and well-balanced. My hat off to you, sir.
One of the most insightful reviews of all. Thanks Ralfy!
Great video. As a novice whisky connoisseur, I'm glad I got the collection pack (red, black, gold, blue) 4x200ml as a grad gift. Blue label displays itself as a super high quality product but what it really is, is just a status symbol people like to show off. It's like Grey Goose vodka.
Ralphy Mate, I want to say how brilliant your style is, i just love how your opinions are all ways true to what you actually believe and how you never get warped or influenced by prices or surrounding hype on whiskys, you just tell us what you really think. A rare quality in most humans these days. keep up your good work mate :)
My first whiskey. My first intro to the world. Thanks to a hunger to learn and your videos, I now have plenty of single malts that took many years of hard work, and love of the craft to produce. In my job, I’m able to help people get away from popular names and set them on their scotch journey with bottles and names I trust. Each giving a unique impression on each people the way they did on me. Thanks Ralfy
Aaaah I've been waiting for so many months for this review! Thank you! :D
I just bought this last weekend because... well, because I had a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket. It was something I just wanted for my collection and to experience because there is so much image associated with it.
On tasting, it simply reminded me of a Johnny Walker Black that was very rounded and lacked any type of burn. I never look for "smoothness" in my whisky, but this stuff is very noticeably smoothed somehow. It comes with a subtle handshake and then simply slips out of the room.
This said, I suggested that this whisky would be most enjoyed by those who are very new to drinking scotch whisky.
It's overfiltered, then has junk added to try to bring back a little character. Ultimately, it falls very flat like a boxed wine. Not bad, but not good. Very "anodyne", lol.
I do quite like it, quite fresh with a nice subtle saltiness a bit of a sugary sweetness, some green apple and a mild oaky finish. I quite enjoy drinking it but I was also gifted my bottle as a leaving present from Diageo so I would probably be a bit more critical if I’d paid for it myself. I definitely wouldn’t buy it, for the money I think you could get much more interesting whiskies
First time I see one of his reviews, and even though I know _nothing_ about whisky, I must say I really liked his style. I think I will continue watching his other reviews. Keep up the good work!
I was in the same boat. I saw Ralfy on his brother Clive's channel where they were reviewing a Russian MRE, and of course Clive promoted this channel. I dropped in to check out Ralfy right after, not because Clive recommended it, but because the way they interacted together I had to check it out. I was very pleasantly surprised at the work Ralfy does here. I will never understand whisky the way Ralfy does, but I may learn to sound like I know a thing or two.
I'm a whisky novice. Enjoying this channel immensely...
wow. I'm surprised. I'm a drinker of smoky black famous grouse, i did not expect my scotch to end up scoring higher than Johnnie Walker's Blue Label. makes me feel good about my taste in scotch.
Great review! I bought this for my Dad's 70th birthday. I got it just for the label. Thanks
I am new to your channel, and you are by far better than some of these other so called whiskey guides. GREAT WORK RALFY!
Very interesting that you grade Black Label higher than Blue. Which makes me happy....because I'm trying (for the first time) Black Label as I type this.
Ralfy - I'm one of those big, multi-national company marketers. Kudos to you. I rely on your reviews to invest in potential whisky's to buy and try. Keep up the awesome work!
Change my jacket once a year, I love it Ralphie never change the truth is in the Scotch …. , from a scotch descendent in the US Georgia.
I'm not a drinker. I don't even drink beer. I know nothing about whiskey. Stumbled upon this video somehow and really enjoyed your detailed review. Nice to see someone passionate about something. Cheers.
not a whiskey drinker at all but appreciate your expertise and passion for whiskey. i also appreciate how eloquently you talk and describe the whiskey. hats off to you.
Fantastic review! very informative, feels like a marketing lesson.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for this review- I've been waiting 2 years to see what you think of it. All the best, Ralfy!
One of your best reviews! Cheers Ralfy.
Sounds like Johnnie Walker is selling the "sizzle" and not the steak.
This one was fascinating. Thanks again for the reviews Ralfy !
Good, insightful & balanced review, thanks.
The funny thing is, that when I watched Your channel for the first time (like 2 years ago). I had no idea what you are talking about. I mean literally I sat with a dictionary :) Keep up the good work! And cheers form Poznan/Poland
Well put and great honesty!
Fantastic review I one of you best Ralfy really enjoyed this and I just picked a bottle up in the Akron the other day will look forward to tasting by the fire Saturday night
I appreciate your consideration for those of us living in far flung corners of the planet. Im spending a year teaching abroad in Vietnam, and sure enough the shelves of the local supermarket are rammed with Johnnie Walker.
Brilliant Ralfy!!. Regards of Fede Hollmann from Argentine. Lands of Malbec and Tango.
Over priced and over rated. Give me the Green Label any day!
Around here the blue is around $200, and the green is $49.
It's a shame they don't make green anymore :(
TheAmbSteve I live in England and in a Tesco in Sheffield I saw green label selling for £37.50
Green is superior to blue. Blue tastes like a watered down version of green lane.
Morrisons and Asda, keep a look out, green can be found at £30 sometimez
Green is no better than Blue. In fact I’ve always found it raw and unpleasant. At one Walker Whiskey (for industry folk) event, the Brand Ambassador reiterated throughout 2 hours that it was designed to be consumed chilled. Okay but that didn’t make it better. And I agree that Blue is well overrated.
Smart man! I really enjoyed your intelligent review; I appreciated your explanation for your opinion and 82/100 score. I agree 100% with your opinion and that's because it made logical sense to me.
I will say Johnnie Walker black did get me into the world of scotch and definitely your reviews put me on the right track to trying some truly great scotch thanks
Excellent and honest review. Bravo!
Greeting Mr Ralfy, when there is no new review and need something, I go to older videos and watch them. Very exciting, you still love good.
Ralfy, I appreciate your advocacy of moderation. I've noticed that as I get older, my beer, wine, and spirits budget is the same as when I was younger, if not more. And yet I am drinking far less. Just buying more of the good stuff!
Spot-on review as always! Thanks for doing it!
Excellent video as always Ralfy! You should have your own tv show.
This is the first Ralfy video I've seen and it was a great watch. At one point I wanted to go down to my wife's spice cupboard and sniff around so I could keep up with your flavor and note descriptions. I am a rather new whiskey drinker. As a sailor I was able to have a sip of Johnnie Walker Blue at Ferrarri World in Dubai. It didn't leave a big impression on me. However, in Hong Kong, China, I had some Lagavulin 16 year. I have been in love since. Thank you for the great review.
Great video! Really enjoying it!
omg.... How Ive been waiting for this!!!!!
I only just came across this brilliant review. I'm a single malt enthusiast and have only encountered one 'blended' spirit that I thought was any good. (I'm sure there have been others out there) In the late '70's/early '80's there was a briefly available Glenfarclas/Glenlivet blend that was really quite good. Otherwise I tend to stick to the singles. Your honesty about these spurious blended ("branded"!) products is appreciated. Well done!
Hi Ralfy, Enjoyed watching. Happy Holidays🍸🎅🎄🇺🇸🇬🇧
Love this men, thanks to his review of Jahnnie Walker Blue and his adjectives to this particularly expensive whisky, never going to buy a single bottle of it, on the contraire, Green Label (already extinct), is a treasure.
YES! ABOUT TIME!!! great review ralfy...
he said it " Excellent Green label" my poison of choice blue for especial occasions
Greetings from germany i love ya reviews. Peace n love !✌🏻
Glenmorangie Original is so, so good. I'm glad your friends enjoyed it. It's one of my favorites.
thank you ralfy for this review you help me out alot.
I had just sent you a comment about this Ralfy on another video and mentioned I got this for Christmas this year and was disappointed with it. It was good, but not the hype that comes with it good. I would have given it a 78/100. You got pretty darn close to my experience. Love the channel, and have gotten a few of my own malt mates to check out your stuff.
Informative and spot on view of the label over the contents.
OH YEAH! That's a $40 sip baby!
buy bottle $165 Costco
And worth $40-50. Maybe.
That was a brave review and with class as always :)
Es la primera vez que alguien comparte el mismo punto de vista de un servidor y amigo, Ralfy; estoy completamente de acuerdo contigo, incluso yo de hubiera dado la calificación de 80. Te felicito por desenmascarar a todos los productos de la Mercadotecnia. Feliz Año y saludos desde Mérida, Yucatán. Mexico
Hello there. Great thing you have going here. Very helpful. Thank you very much. I'm new to the world of Scotch, & Irish whisky. My wife bought me a bottle of Blue Label around 2 years ago.Not impressed. Going with affordability, I like The Balvenie,& Highland Park. Being Canadian, I'm eager to try Glen Breton. I watched your review, & now I'm much less reluctant to give it a try. Kinda hard for me to spend close to $100 on something I've heard absolutely nothing about. Thanks so much.
Thank you Ralfy! Look forward to the next whiskey reviews!
Thank you for your review!
Ralphy.... first off your the man . I won a bottle of this whiskey in a raffle and I dont even drink but im anxious to taste it based on how its talked about .
Every year for 17 years my mother in-law brings me a bottle of JW black and Chivas regal. It is so true that there must be so much going on trying to keep the recipe consistent. Comparing the two whiskies year after year against each other has been enlightening to what you just said. Some batches they get right and some they don't. Perhaps like wine and it's year, the batch should be given as much significance as the year.
As a consumer of single malts and blended scotch whisky, both have their merits. A mega brand like johnnie Walker has the luxury of accessibility of several single malts to create their blends. This is great for the consumer. The master blender has the ability to take pieces of single malts and blend to create desired complexity. There is a reason johnnie Walker black is sold everywhere. It’s consistent, a little smoke from coal ila and or talisker as well as other well known single malts combined with grain whisky. Scotch drinker for over twenty years...still a fan of some blends..particularly johnnie Walker black. Kind regards
I watched just to see if you were honest, and YOU ARE, I didn't like the blue lable, it was week, it was NOT what I expected.
Thank you sir for your review, you are awesome.
Ralfy, another great review and as it happens, I totally agree with you. The average price for a fifth here in New York is around $200. I have seen it as low as $165 in New Jersey. I've had it and I don't it's anything to write home about. I also agree with you about the Green Label being the best of the bunch.
I was curious if you will doing a review of their Platinum Label any time soon?
Cheers,
Rich
I first tried the Blue Label over 10 years ago in college, and since then I've never felt any desire to pay up to have another. I don't even remember what it tasted like, but I do remember thinking, "wow, all this hype and high price, and this isn't even that good." For all these years, I've wondered if I was nuts for dismissing it so quickly. Until I saw this review. Thanks Ralfy.
Well said Ralph really true about how many of us got started enjoying malts, my first blended whiskey was JW black label and I have learned to appreciate other varieties from there.
Best whisky review ever!
I recently found your videos and they have been immensely useful in my growing appreciation of malts, etc. Interestingly enough, I have never found blends to be very palatable, so my real introduction to whiskeys has been in the single malts. My first bottle was Macallan Cask Strength (the one aged in sherry casks with no indication of specific year due to being blended from several different ones) and I've recently found what I believe is going to be my standard for awhile ... HP 12 year. Yum!
WOW- couldn't agree with you more. From a bloke who mostly consumes my whiskey with coke. Blue Label is an opportunity (from an novice point of view) to be introduced to whiskey they way it is meant to be consumed. Its smoothness, its smokey notes, its fruity flavours. i now try out some of the great whiskeys from Tasmania because this brand, that is trusted, has pointed me toward the enjoyment of a good whisky.
Been waiting for this review for awhile finally haha NICE
Fantastic this Johnnie Walker Blue Label Without words!
Your expression at 5:29 says it all!
Like WTF I just spent $250 on this!!! 🤣🤣
thanks for all the great reviews! have you tried JW Platinum Label yet?
I love all your Scotch (and other) reviews, especially the ones on practical things like types of glass and literature.
I'm watching the entire playlist now. Hoping to see some advice for the budding connoisseur or collector who doesn't have the budget or cabinet space for a lot of bottles. ^w^
Hello and congats on your excellent reviews! Do you think whiskeys deteriorate over time once the bottle has been opened?
Wow, your discussion on blending mirrors my own experience when I decided to vat my own blends of Bourbon using 50 different bourbons. if you use little parts to make up a whole, it gets "muddy" and lost. however, if you use a strong base whiskey and then add the touches of various other whiskeys you suddenly get the balance back. Vary interesting indeed! Thanks for your review of JW Blue...I don't think i'll ever buy it now :)
Hey Ralfy nice review. I always wanted to try the Green label. Any idea where I could get my hands on it
rather hard to find now ! it's discontinued.
Hey Ralfy,
What is the best source of information when it comes to keeping up with limited edition bottlings?
I'm a pretty new whisky drinker. the first whisky i ever had was Jameson, at a party of course. but since then i've loved the taste of it and recently had my first scotch which was a Johnny Walker Black label on my birthday. anyway, your videos are very informative, keep up the good work.
Be great to see an up to date review of this Rafly. It’s bottled at 40% now a days as opposed to 43%.
fantastic . i am learning from your videos i love my Drink moment not necesarily populars just flavour
Truth to power. Cynical but fair. Telling it like it is. Ralfy, you're righteous, loving, and clear as an unmuddied water. Cheers to you.
I'm drinking green label which I tried at Ralfy and other's urging. Damn it's so good!
With you Ralfy. I got all the Johnnie Walker's in my collection and i prefer the Green Label over the Blue.Excellent review my friend.
Ralphy you are too funny comparing jw to corn flakes. Soo true. currently sipping bowmore legend....not bad at all. Auchentoshin classic is next. Your reviews always make me want to get a dram right away. Your scenes and video quality are excellent. Love the barrel !!
7:30 that’s why I get my recommendations from Sir Ralfy !! He’s a Scotsman and Expert Scotch Whisky drinker !! Thanks for the many advices!! Cheers 🥂!!
I agree and understand your post Ralphy.
If I may my advice to new scotch newbies,go out and try single and blended whiskey's.
At the end of the day it comes down to your personal taste.
Budget also factors in.
Johnnie Walker Blue is out of reach for most.
Personally the Johnnie Walker Red here in 2015 is very smooth and extremely tasty.
I can't help but to keep falling back on it.For the .price its your best bang for the buck in Scotch Whiskey.Its nearly as good as the higher priced Johnnie's,very very under the radar as an extremely well rounded dram.FWIW!!!
keep up the great post's Ralphy !!!!
well said Ralfy. thanks for review
I bought this bottle 3 times and I love it..
I love your reviews. My friend who is new to scotch wants a recommendation. Do you think Laphroaig 10 is too peaty for a beginner?
if your friend likes peat, no problem.
great review. i hope to colletct all 5 labels soon.
@ralfystuff
hi ralfy. that was absolutely new to me. i thought, once in the bottle, not opened, nothing will change a beauty of a whisky, as you say :-), provided the bottle is kept in a clean, cool location.
is this effect only valid for phenolic stuff?
"Malty Mondrians" lol
Thanks for the vid!
Hey Ralfy! i was just wondering what your favorite whisky is and which one you rated the highest! thanks.
You said everything that I was thinking about in this whiskey, all show No go !!!
Great review! I have seen a bottle of this one at my local story and was just about buying it... Now I know better and will spend the money for single malt. Everything you said about marketing is true. I have started with whisky just some months ago but I'm very experienced with the most famous red wine - Bordeaux - and it's just the same thing. The big Châteaux don't need any marketing, they sell like hot cakes with price tags like 1000 € a bottle.
Ralfy I recently inherited an old bottle of sealed blue label. Looks to be quite old. Any idea how I can figure out when it was bottled? I see no marks of a bottling date anywhere on the box or bottle. Thanks so much. Love your videos and highly value your opinion.
Ralfy, thank you for this honest and straightforward review. I've been wanting to try JW Blue since it came out, but the price tag has always put me off. And the price has gone up considerably since it was first introduced. A friend of mine got a bottle from his best man as a wedding gift, and he saved me a dram or two. I still want to try it, but based on your review, I'm glad I never made the "investment" in it myself.
Follow up: I was given a glass of JW Blue by a friendly bartender on a recent tip to Philadelphia. It clocks in at $45 a glass, so I wouldn't have paid for it, but I was happy to accept a freebie. I was not at all impressed. This wouldn't even make my list of review-worthy whiskies. I'd have been really put out if I had paid for it.
JOHNNY WALKER BLUE LABEL OH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
~Ghost the True Capitalist
for sure it does ralfy, this issue has always got me perplexed. It cannot be possible that diageo hold a method and recipe that always gives the exact same results, but thanks for your thought
Really interesting review.