Johnnie Walker “Oldest”
Whisky : Johnnie Walker “Oldest”
Country/Region : Scotland/Blend
ABV : 43%
Cask : Various (Bottle # J000503)
Tasting : Neat in a Glencairn @ HWG Series #2
Nose : Fruitiness of fresh cut stone fruits: peaches and apricots. A faintly herbal smoke hints at that aged peated components in the blend. There is an interesting meaty quality that reminds me of grilled sword fish with a bit of lemon and pepper.
Palate : Sweet and musky like a warm leather armchair that has taken on the aroma of a fruity cologne. Smoke is a bit more noticeable on the palate, an aromatic pine or kiawe/mesquite burning in a fireplace. The overall body is on the lighter end of the spectrum with the fruit forward nose a bit more restrained on the palate.
Finish : Long and mellow like a butterscotch candy melting in your mouth.
Score : 5
Mental Image : Lost in a museum. Looking for the bathroom during a reception in the dinosaur exhibit.
Notes : While pouring my dram I found myself mentally quoting Indian Jones, this belongs in a museum! I should count myself fortunate that this bottle ended up in the hands of a friend who simply had no reason to keep holding on to it. It might be an interesting piece of whisky history as on of the pre-cursors to the modern Johnnie Walker Blue Label, but what good is a bottle scotch if it is not opened and shared with friends?
Apparently bottles of old Johnnie Walker make for great collection pieces; the brand is ubiquitous, instantly recognizable, and has a venerable history. There are also an ample number of old expressions for a collector (though not one as cool as Indian Jones) to seek out. Collecting for the sake of owning a personal whisky history museum is just not a motivation that I relate to. (despite being a historian I generally do not collect a lot of old stuff). Nor can I relate to someone who views whisky as an investment.
It is hard to be totally dispassionate reviewing an old bottle of scotch. I find that the age and rarity weigh on my ability to be entirely objective. I want to enjoy this dram, to maximize my experience knowing full well that it might as well be a unicorn I will never drink again. Yet, this really was not something I would come back to even if I could. I wonder if maybe giving it a C is not a bit of grade inflation due to rarity. This proto-blue label was fine dram, but aside from being fun and interesting it lacked depth, body, and complexity. It is an easy drinker that might pair well with a cigar, but it is not likely to dazzle someone normally drawn to cask strength, peat, or sherry bombs.
It is a dinosaur, fun to see in a museum, but probably not the ideal pet.
