Advent 2022 #8 - Johnnie Walker Island Green

Green Label was one of the first whiskies I ever had, well before I even knew how to appreciate it. When I found out about a slightly different version in the same vein, I was interested to try it but it wasn’t in my market. Fortunately I came across a sample a while back, and finally it’s turned up in my calendar. Let’s go.

Johnnie Walker Island Green, Scotland Blend, 43% ABV

Minutia: Comprised of malt from Caol Ila, Clynelish, Glenkinchie, and Cardhu. Reviewed blind, neat in an opaque glencairn.

Color: Amber; 0.7.

Nose: Smoke, ash. Plastic/rubber. Slightly medicinal, but more the plastic part presenting as medicinal than true iodine/anbesol notes.

Taste: Sweet malt. Honey. Banana. Coffee, pepper.

Finish: Nutty, smoke, musty. Medium-short.

Guess: Lagavulin DE

I was leaning toward a low ABV blend with the short finish and variety, but Lagavulin DE has a couple different faces so I guessed that this was one. I’m not surprised at all that it’s a blend, as I noted this was simple, but varied. It’s not complex in each area, but it three different non-complex facets, the most different being the taste with a real nice sweetness.

Score: 82