Someone explain Johnnie Walker to me
 

Not a JW drinker by any means. But let's say I were to bring a bottle as a housewarming gift (context: making a good impression, e.g., dinner at the boss's house), ... which label should I buy?

Is Blue going overboard? Double Black a slap in the face? Gold impressive enough without being pretentious?

Pabst would be so much easier...

Someone explain Johnnie Walker to me
 

I'd say Blue would definitely be overkill unless you snag a good deal (~$180 USD duty free).

Most people would appreciate anything above red as a gift so I'd personally look at something like double black or green, unless gold or platinum turn up at a reasonable price (sub ~$85 USD)

Basically the bottles vary by age,blend and price as a result of the former two.

If you know someone coming in from overseas there's the 21yr old XR in airports and also the 'travellers range' if you just wanted something unique but if that's not possible then obviously I wouldn't worry about it.

Obviously other people may have varying opinions and of course it depends on what you intend to spend on a housewarming gift, if JW blue falls within that budget then it won't go unappreciated

I agree with this assesment - BTW the father of my grand children is a Scotsman.

Thanks, that was very helpful ^

That is the allure of JW -- well priced and reliably good. Each increment in price does lead to more exclusivity and recognition of the cost. As for taste, there is a different flavour to each one, personally I prefer Green over Blue (despite being much cheaper). In some ways the Double Black is the best of all. But Glenmorangie has it beat at all levels, just much harder to acquire and not as well known, so I drink Glenmorangie for pleasure and give JW as gifts.

Diageo's brands include Smirnoff (the world's best-selling vodka),[6] Johnnie Walker (the world's best-selling Scotch whisky),[7] Baileys (the world's best-selling liqueur)[8] and Guinness (the world's best-selling stout).[9][10] It is also the exclusive international distributor of José Cuervo (the world's best-selling tequila),[11] Crown Royal, and owns 34% of Moët Hennessy, which owns brands including Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Hennessy.

this thing is extremely well marketed, and directed, as are their other products to dedicated label buyers.

Good to see I'm not the only one, the character Green from each of the individual malts actually makes this my preference over many single malts as well. I just bought 10 bottles since they've stopped making it.

Also a good option as a gift, since its not as commonplace as Red, Black or Blue so its more unlikely he'll have one.

It's all going to depend on who you are bringing it to and what they drink. If all they drink is red, they would be happy with everything. If they consider blue to be their go to variety, they would not be happy with less than blue probably. If they don't drink whiskey, or don't drink at all they would wonder why you picked that. There's no right answer unless you really know what they like.

Blue sells for $120.00 at Costco every Nov.

+1

If someone gives me something "less" than what I normally drink, it usually languishes for years or is given away to others for free when they're visiting my place.

i'd prefer glenfiddich 15yr single malt for USD$80

I agree with your preference for the Green over the Blue. On the other hand, for a "Guest's Gift", I'd do a bit of reading here and buy a single malt, likely more impressive unless your host is a JW drinker.

JW Red is meant for mixing only.
JW Black drinks well but is considered on the low end as a gift (great for say a dinner party gift)

All other JWs are fine as higher end gifts.

I do like to drink JWs But.... I think they are clearly overpriced, mostly marketing I say.

For people who understand scotch's I would go for some single malts.

I always avoid giving JW as a present as most people have heard of it.

A lesser known brand will make a bigger impact on the person receiving it.

^

Glenmorangie, Laphroiag, or an elderly Macallan.

If you know the recipient likes scotch, then you should get him his preferred brand. If you're not sure whether the person likes scotch but want to give scotch, a blend is appropriate because they tend to have more mass appeal.

Before you give a single malt, be sure that the person likes its flavor profile! I hate Laphroaig, for example - it tastes like you retrieved the bottle from the burned out wreckage of your house.

Quite - my mother likes Glenmorangie, but shares a similar hatred of Laphroaig. But also, she wouldn't thank you for (ok, she would, she is very polite, she just wouldn't drink) a blended malt - not her thing either. They all taste very different.

Heathen....

If the guy is actually Scottish, I would get a single malt whisky (Macallan & Glenmorangie are good suggestions). From my time in Scotland & abroad, blended whisky, even "the good stuff" was usually only consumed by aspirational foreigners.

Yes always wise to find that out before buying anything....I know plenty fellow Scots who can't stand the stuff.

You could have a very similar (and much cheaper) drink by buying a bottle of Liquid Smoke at the grocery store! :p

putting a bottle of walker red on the table is about the same as going to a place with some hot arm candy.........

this.

the belief that any given single malt is better than a blend is a clear mark of ignorance.

I am surprised no one has mentioned Lagavulin 16 as an option. Under $80 and really great IMO.

I find Johnnie Walker Black or Macallan 12 to be perfectly acceptable. JW Double Black is a little too smokey for my taste. I just recently finished the 2 bottles I bought on a trip to Puerto Rico. I've tried Glenlivet, Talisker, Jura. All are acceptable. Right now I'm back to my Macallan 12, although my partner just brought me back a bottle of Macallan Select Oak 12 yr from Europe.

JW Black is about $30, Macallan 12 is about $50. Whatever you do, don't give JW Red. It's drinkable but not much of a gift.

Yes, it is one of my favorites. There is a long generic whisky thread that has been going on for a few years. My favorites are the Islays in general. Probably in order Laphroaig/Ardbeg (tie for first), Lagavulin and then Bowmore. But I like them all a lot. When I first started drinking single malts I hated Laphroaig and drank mostly MacAllan. But as I drank more varieties and became more used to them I have graduated to the more peaty, smoky malts.

In JW I like the Double Black. I think it is a good buy. Not as good as the malts above I mentioned in my opinion but generally about half or even a third the price.

I was always told the JW red was in no uncertain terms for cocktails only.

Probably true - it's one of the cheap blends, like Dewars. On the other hand, I used to work with a guy whose standard drink order was Dewars on the rocks...so it's really a question of what you like. :)

Next time I'm in a BA first lounge at LHR in the morning I may pour myself a JW Blue and orange juice, as long as someone is watching. ;)

Lagavulin
 

I would strongly recommend Lagavulin too. Its a great mix of peaty and sweet without being very peaty (like, say, Ardberg).

Depending on where you are in the US, you can get a bottle of Lagavulin for $60-$75 bucks as well.

Should you go this route, I'd recommend staying away from the distiller's edition of Lagavulin - I never warmed up to it.

JW is always a good friend. "The day goes - Johnnie Walker comes":D

Was just at my local CostCo (Mar Vista). The 16 yo Lagavulin is for sale (not on sale) there at about $69. When it does go on sale it can be had for around $55.

Thanks for all the input, it's been pretty educational.

I'll try to provide a bit more context... the recipient enjoys liquor but is not a scotch expert. This also involves a culture that values brand names quite a bit, so it's more about the label and less about what's inside. I think I'm going to try to find some Green, Gold, or Platinum. If not... Double Black at the minimum... or Blue, if I'm trying to knock 'em dead :)

I've been in the same position of buying liquor for people who are mostly concerned with label. My suggestion is to follow your instincts and not try to impose extra-cultural sensibilities (like taste ;) ). In some places, the higher end JW's are considered "premium" Scotchs and are almost universally recognized (by others in that culture) as such.

Personally, I would go with Blue as the price difference between that and Platinum isn't that great and, as you said, they will probably be blown away by it. Depending on the circumstances, Green and Double Black may not be considered "prestigious" enough.

The only downside to giving Blue is if it makes it look like you're trying to curry favor by overstepping the relationship or results in a counter-obligation which would be considered by the recipient in a negative light; but I'm probably over-thinking this - go with the Blue.

I saw a really nice set of Scotches (is that the plural?) this weekend at the liquor store. It had a 10, a 15 and a 25 year old bottle of the same brand, each 300ml I believe. It might be a nice way for a non scotch drinker to get into scotch. No idea of JW do a tasting set of similar ilk.

JW has a 4 pack of 200ml - I think it is black / green / gold / blue. It makes a nice gift. It was running about US$100 duty free for some time, but it seems to have crept up about 20% recently. For that price, I'd rather give a nicer 1L bottle of a "more expensive colo(u)r."

Or for those who like a sweeter malt, Aberlour or Glendronach or the Balvenie double wood are worth considering.

Sometimes it's nice to have a flavor profile that isn't your first choice around; I aim very sweet, and don't care for the stronger Islays (Bowmore is about my limit), but it's nice to have one around for guests.

Oh, certainly, although it depends a lot on what you like. I've yet to find a blend I cared for except mixed (and I prefer an inexpensive bourbon for that); if you have any recommendations for one with the same strong sherry or port notes that the sweeter single malts I like lean to, I'd be happy to try one.

^I second the recommendation for Balvenie Doublewood.

+1

buying something like laphroaig for someone whose tastes you don't know is a horrible idea.

agreed - I tend to keep Aberlour 16 and A'bunadh on hand. Just finished up a bottle of the Balvenie double wood and would recommend.