I'll be the lone dissenting voice, I'm such a rebel. JW Blue is my favourite, simple sipper. There are whiskies I analyse and whiskies I just enjoy and bottles like Blue Label, Cardhu 18, Hazelburn, Glenturret 12 and Ardnamurchan 10 fall straight in there. I don't think that infers anything about me other than I value a whisky that other people don't. Its just a drink.
The thing is that Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a gift bottle marketed to people with deep pockets who know nothing about whisky. Also, I'd say the majority of bottles featured in this video are VERY hard to track down in the USA in 2023, and several like Springbank 15 are absolutely more expensive on the off chance you actually find a bottle. Lastly, are single malts, cask strength, peat bombs, or Sherry monsters really alternatives to a mildly-flavored 40% blend? The only serious alternative I can suggest is something like Dewar's 18 for about $65 ✌️
I agree, these aren’t really alternatives. More better quality whiskies for aficionados with a Johnnie Walker Blue budget. Compass Box Ultramarine is the craft version of JWB, albeit at a $100 premium… but delicious. Good question is what to buy for a special occasion, if it’s a mixed group of scotch lovers and newbies. Talisker 18 from this list is my nominee. Outside this list maybe Balvenie 21 Port Wood? Approachable enough for newbies but enough going on for those in the know…and a good age statement adds something to a special occasion.
@@hanqb10 The quality alternative to Johnnie Walker Blue Label use to be Glenmorangie Signet, but I guess it still is, but with these bottles now selling for something like $225+ (I think?), it really can't be recommended.
Are these comps solely on taste or just price value. I drink to enjoy the flavor of the drink. JW blue is a smooth whisky that doesn’t burn. Yes, the after taste doesn’t last very long but it is a drink I can really enjoy even more with a very nice mid to full body cigar. I was hoping that these comps were on taste and not just on price tag. Nonetheless, I still like your commentary
JW Blue Label comes in for a lot of criticism from malt enthusiasts, some of which is based on what it represents rather than what it is. It’s not something I buy for myself but I’ve been gifted bottles over the years and always enjoyed it. It’s all about texture and elegance rather than intensity. Interestingly it, and the whole Diageo range, is cheaper in Australia than the US, which is the opposite case for almost all malts. It usually costs in the low AUD$200s here, which is around US$130, whereas our prices for many malts are 50-100% more than in the US. That makes Blue Label more viable here as a prestige blended scotch than in other countries. I think Diageo imports their products directly here and distributes them as well rather than selling to local wholesale importers.
That's really interesting to know, because it's so inflated in price here in the US. Completely changes its positioning. Do these lower Diageo prices extend to the single malts, or just the blends?
@@whiskywhereabouts It varies. All the JW range is priced in Aussie dollars at around the same as US $ prices, which means effectively they are 30-40% cheaper here, and the same is true for other Diageo distributed blended scotch. Diageo malts are no so competitive, but taking exchange rates into consideration the prices are about the same as the US or a little cheaper. However this is still better than most other malts which are generally around 50% more here. Our excise duties are very high.
@@judenwaiwu4583 Right, taste i relative. Still easy to find 500 better (and many cheaper) whiskies than the chill filtered E150 JW Blue... It's (in my opinion) a whisky for some to simply show off. Not only did I try it (and it wasn't my mood that I was underwhelmed), also most reviews tend to have the same direction. Anyway - good marketing and we all have the choice.
I'll be the lone dissenting voice, I'm such a rebel. JW Blue is my favourite, simple sipper. There are whiskies I analyse and whiskies I just enjoy and bottles like Blue Label, Cardhu 18, Hazelburn, Glenturret 12 and Ardnamurchan 10 fall straight in there. I don't think that infers anything about me other than I value a whisky that other people don't. Its just a drink.
Ive had the red one before it taste harsh. Ive had the black bottle before. :)
I learn as much from the comments as I do the video!! Keep ‘em coming
The thing is that Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a gift bottle marketed to people with deep pockets who know nothing about whisky.
Also, I'd say the majority of bottles featured in this video are VERY hard to track down in the USA in 2023, and several like Springbank 15 are absolutely more expensive on the off chance you actually find a bottle.
Lastly, are single malts, cask strength, peat bombs, or Sherry monsters really alternatives to a mildly-flavored 40% blend? The only serious alternative I can suggest is something like Dewar's 18 for about $65 ✌️
I agree, these aren’t really alternatives. More better quality whiskies for aficionados with a Johnnie Walker Blue budget. Compass Box Ultramarine is the craft version of JWB, albeit at a $100 premium… but delicious. Good question is what to buy for a special occasion, if it’s a mixed group of scotch lovers and newbies. Talisker 18 from this list is my nominee. Outside this list maybe Balvenie 21 Port Wood? Approachable enough for newbies but enough going on for those in the know…and a good age statement adds something to a special occasion.
A 375ml bottle of Dewars 32 would also do the trick for the same price as blue label.
@@hanqb10 The quality alternative to Johnnie Walker Blue Label use to be Glenmorangie Signet, but I guess it still is, but with these bottles now selling for something like $225+ (I think?), it really can't be recommended.
@@hanqb10 That's cheating a bit 😉
I’d say premium age statement blended scotches and similarly priced blended malts like those from Douglas Laing are more appropriate alternatives.
Are these comps solely on taste or just price value. I drink to enjoy the flavor of the drink. JW blue is a smooth whisky that doesn’t burn. Yes, the after taste doesn’t last very long but it is a drink I can really enjoy even more with a very nice mid to full body cigar.
I was hoping that these comps were on taste and not just on price tag. Nonetheless, I still like your commentary
i was hoping for a list that was actually alternatives, a bottle for $200 is not a cheep alternative, i was thinking maybe $30-50
You have great videos!
Thank you!
MY FAVOURITE IS GLEMORANGIE 12 .
JW Blue Label comes in for a lot of criticism from malt enthusiasts, some of which is based on what it represents rather than what it is. It’s not something I buy for myself but I’ve been gifted bottles over the years and always enjoyed it. It’s all about texture and elegance rather than intensity.
Interestingly it, and the whole Diageo range, is cheaper in Australia than the US, which is the opposite case for almost all malts. It usually costs in the low AUD$200s here, which is around US$130, whereas our prices for many malts are 50-100% more than in the US. That makes Blue Label more viable here as a prestige blended scotch than in other countries. I think Diageo imports their products directly here and distributes them as well rather than selling to local wholesale importers.
That's really interesting to know, because it's so inflated in price here in the US. Completely changes its positioning. Do these lower Diageo prices extend to the single malts, or just the blends?
@@whiskywhereabouts It varies. All the JW range is priced in Aussie dollars at around the same as US $ prices, which means effectively they are 30-40% cheaper here, and the same is true for other Diageo distributed blended scotch. Diageo malts are no so competitive, but taking exchange rates into consideration the prices are about the same as the US or a little cheaper. However this is still better than most other malts which are generally around 50% more here. Our excise duties are very high.
Honestly, I was disappointed in the JW Green as well. For the price there are MUCH better bottles out there.
????
I’ll take a $50 bottle of any Islay whisky over JW anything!
And it's also easy to find Top 500 Scotch Whisky Alternatives BETTER Than Johnnie Walker Blue Label...
When you say better, remember taste is relative, so I think it depends on what one is in the mood for and I am not talking about drinking quinine 😂
@@judenwaiwu4583 Right, taste i relative. Still easy to find 500 better (and many cheaper) whiskies than the chill filtered E150 JW Blue...
It's (in my opinion) a whisky for some to simply show off. Not only did I try it (and it wasn't my mood that I was underwhelmed), also most reviews tend to have the same direction. Anyway - good marketing and we all have the choice.
@@judenwaiwu4583taste is relative due to knowledge. Quality is embedded in the product and noticeable with experience.