Biggest WASTE of Money? Johnnie Walker Blue Label Review

[@JeffWhisky]

Coming to you first Bottle Slap Club! Let me know if JW Blue is something you have tried? Cheers.

[@WhiskyWars]

Congrats on 2k! Fully deserved. Proud to be a bottle slapper, cheers! 🥃

[@JeffWhisky]

Thank you for slapping and embracing the Jeff way. Soon the shirt will just appear on you one morning! Cheers.

[@zoozles3933]

Appreciate the shoutout Jeff! Also appreciate you not slapping that bottle too hard 😂

[@JeffWhisky]

Grateful for you trusting me with the bottle... I promise that switching the liquid was only a joke...

[@mathieuthomas-guy5501]

I found a bottle maybe 25 years ago, sip it, really liked it, went to buy another one; what a shock! The sale person was talking to me like Mr. this, mr. that, seems suspicious.... Until he brings the bottle, think it was 250$ canadian dollars. At that time I didn't know Scotch could be that expensive! As a whole it was a really pleasing drink, complex but not anything to shock newcomers, I felt the luxury item, was not like your usual dram at the Pub. Definitely not for a Peat Head like me but felt perfect to sip in an old Chesterfield by the fire after your hound hunting...

[@NoteworthyWhisky]

Congrats on the 2K! Great review and nice notes! I agree it’s just ok but over priced. I had a mini and was surprised how much the grain showed up. That being said, if you can try a Blue from the 90s or 2000s it’s a whole different story as it’s fantastic. Cheers, Jeff!

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers buddy! Yeah, for something this "luxury" why is the grain so prevalent? Not that I am anti grain whisky but it doesn't give the vibe they are pushing. Will keep my eyes out of some oldies. Thanks for the support!

[@KanpaiPlanet]

Older JW Blue for the win. The current stuff... could not agree more with your assessment. Great video. Kanpai! 🥃 🥃 🥃

[@JeffWhisky]

I have seen a few folk say that older JW Blue was stunning stuff, which is a surprise with how they market how consistent it is. Cheers for watching Mac!

[@MordorsMalts]

I remember going to a JW tasting around 20 years ago (well before I got into whisky seriously), the brand ambassador said they were running out of the old closed distillery juice and that JW Blue will change if they continue producing it - it's a pale shadow of what it once was!

[@peathead4450]

Congrats on the 2K, Mr. Slapper. Kind of a bummer to highlight the blue thing on this great event. Slàinte mhath

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Frank, grateful for your support since the start! I thought Blue Label would be right up your street? It is not a wine finish? Cheers for watching!

[@johnathonw2878]

Congrats on 2000 Jeff. Very well deserved and JW certainly ain't a bad whisky.

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Johnathon! Agree it ain't bad at all... sadly I wouldn't say it is that good either. Cheers!

[@Nicolas_Allende]

Congratulations on a more than deserved 2K! As for the whisky, I've tried it and I honestly think the Green Label has more character. It's a good if a bit uneventful scotch that doesn't warrant the price tag.

[@majornut9728]

At the start of my journey the Blue Lable (and Macallan) was the cream of the crops, top notch whisky I could never afford. Had to settle for the Green, which was my favourite for quite some time. But now things have changed 😁

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Great job. I know how much work it takes to reach 2000. As for the blue label. They must be doing something right as it sells. Do like it if someone else buys it for me. Great editing as usual

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Gert! It is a battle but a fun one at that. Was sure you would have beaten me to it! Yeah 100% they know their target market and they buy it up. I would assume that it is the most purchased duty free bottle? Cheers.

[@SimonneNZ]

Congrats on 2000! I've never tried the Blue Label. The friend who got me into whisky many years ago used to go on and on about the Blue and how it was the best JW. JW have marketed this well as a luxury bottle, but it's too pricey for me. The Green is better value. Cheers!

[@JeffWhisky]

This is a wonderful case study for the power that marketing plays in Whisky. Hope you get to try it, as the silky-ness is quite unique but worth a bottle? Far, far from it. Cheers to the Green label! Thanks for watching Simonne!

[@robertbrotherton2118]

🎉Congrats on making 2000🎉A friend gave me a sample of the blue label. I found it smooth, easy to drink but as you said uninspiring.Not a dram to sit and spend time with. Also wayyyy overpriced $250 -$300aud. Would get more enjoyment from a deanston 12 or port Charlotte 10.

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Robert! Brilliant summary "smooth easy and uninspiring". I don't think they will notice when I switch it for Dalmore 12. Cheers for watching

[@alanmcloughlin909]

Got a bottle in the cupboard that my dad gave me. It’s not a bottle I get on with. Also I think there’s a bunch of different versions of the blue. Not sure which I have. Will need to check. Cheers for the review Jeff. May revisit this bottle to see what I think now

[@JeffWhisky]

Yeah it does feel like Blue Label has been pretty milked with all the other versions like Ghost and they are now doing an Ai version too. Be interesting to hear your thoughts on it Alan, just don't have it following a cask strength sherry bomb or anything

[@TJO1913]

Congratulations Jeff! The 18 year (Gold???) was the highest that I climbed on the Striding Man's ladder. That was fine, especially since I bought it on the cheap.

[@JeffWhisky]

Well to save you climbing any higher on that JW ladder, I can quite confindently tell you that you can save your time and energy. Saying that I have a massive range of JW turning up at my door in the near future which I will share soon! Cheers.

[@bobsander4589]

Got a 20cl bottle unopened which i was saving for a special occassion. However, having tasted a sample dram just wasnt very impressed at all not just cos the price is sky high but it wasnt a nice taste at all. Congrats though on the success of your channel Jeff!

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Bob, it seems a lot of folk are in the same boat as you. Sold on this ultimate whisky to save for a special occasion only for it to be underwhelming when it is opened. Cheers!

[@CandoPeat]

Loved my bottle of this Jeff. Was a gift which was sipped and savoured over time before I knew about other Johnnie Walkers

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers Cando! It has got to be the most gifted whisky, what other JW are you enjoying since?

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Great review Jeff! This is a nice, enjoyable dram that you don't need to think about too much. Would you pay a lot of money to something you don't think too much about is another question. Cheers! Welcome Ash @WhiskyWars a fellow bottle slapper

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks buddy. Completely agree and liked your review on it too. Cheers for watching Champion!

[@mohagget]

I liked the pour I had of this in a golf club once but dread to think how much the cost was. I won't be buying it! But glad to have tried it.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers for watching, this certainly feels like a fancy golf club whisky! Maybe after having the best game of your life? Cheers.

[@TimHoekstra]

Congrats Jeff!

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Tim, seems a huge number for this tiny channel! Grateful to have you on for the ride. Is there any JW that interests you?

[@TimHoekstra]

​@@JeffWhisky the swing strangely enough due to seeing it in the yakuza games. Have yet to pick one up.

[@JeffWhisky]

@@TimHoekstra ah I missed it in the Yakuza games. JW gets around and I don't mean Jeff Whisky!

[@paul_mitchener_ukulele]

Congratulations on the 2k count! As for the whisky, if someone wants to buy me a whisky present, can I give some suggestions instead? The present buyer would save money.

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks for the kind words Paul! Yeah I certainly think that there is nothing wrong with giving suggestions of alternatives. While the thought is what counts it is always nicer to give a gift you know will be well received. You can always be subtle and share reviews to the bottles you are looking at Cheers!

[@paul_mitchener_ukulele]

@@JeffWhiskyabsolutely - in the circumstances, subtle guidance would be key!

[@christinecamley]

Congratulations! I can't justify $405.00 Canadian before taxes. I have had Johnnie Walker Blue and always thought that it's overrated and absolutely overpriced. Terrific video and thoughts Jeff! Hope you are well! 🙂

[@JeffWhisky]

Wow, that sounds even more painful for you in Canada! Overrated and overpriced seem to be the most common description for it. How does the price compare in comparisons to Port Charlotte 10s? I always use that one as a metric on price

[@HostileButHonourable]

JW Blue.... the victory of hype over merit. And at such a price.

[@JeffWhisky]

JW certainly are the winners, I wonder how many bottles sell worldwide per hour! Cheers for watching!

[@kirbyculp3449]

Diageo!

[@MultiCasking]

Boom! Great to see Ash joining the slapper club! Well done you, brother! Another great one, Jeff.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers, Ash, did sneak in before on a big slapper video celebrating a year of Jeff, but great to have him do it properly! Cheers!

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Personally I prefer the blue much more over the green. Honestly I think the green is my least favorite Walker. Celebratory Blend and Directors Cut are my favorites along with year of the rat which was bottled at 46% and ghost and rare port dundas. Definitely harder to find and pricey but really shows what JW can do. Cheers on 2k I’m gonna go slap a bottle right now lol

[@JeffWhisky]

I will keep my eyes out for the Celebratory Blend and Directors Cut. Have heard good things about the Ghost, how do you find it compares to the BL? Is there a big jump? Thanks for watching and enjoy bottle slapping, it is dangerously enjoyable! Cheers

[@ricky5369]

All of your tasting notes sound like the stuff I like haha. Unfortunately I don't drink 40% blended scotch, I just use it for toilet water.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers Ricky, before you chuck it down the toilet, give it a taste 😂There are some solid 40% blends but this is not worth the money!

[@paulgibbs3624]

Yeah, Colin Dunn since retiring lives in Bilston now. Got himself a cob shop on the market, bid queues. Anyhow, this is a really big whisky.......somewhere, but not with us drinkers chap, you know that, all the best👍

[@JeffWhisky]

That is a nice way to retire! Yeah, it is not for us and that is fine. Whisky for all and that jazz. Cheers!

[@anthonysillett6678]

Congratulations on your 2k, I will not be buying this but would accept a free dram or two.

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks Anthony! That is the spirit! It is certainly not a dram you would spit out, but not one to spit cash onto either... maybe that is why I keep getting kicked out of shops. Cheers for watching!

[@anthonysillett6678]

@@JeffWhisky always a cracking show will try and catch your special show coming up and share it!

[@adrianwiuk]

If most of the whisky you drink is around the 40% mark, JWBL will surely impress. If most of your whisky drinking is in the 46%+ range, it will be a big letdown (for the price), although still pleasant enough to drink. I recently gifted a 20cl bottle to my Dad and he loved it, but then he's not a fan of the cask strength samples I get him to try occasionally.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers for commenting Adrian and sorry for the delay in getting back! Yeah I fully agree how pleasant a whisky BL is and I am a sucker for a good easy 40% which this is but as you say, it has a big price tag. Certainly a good gift whisky! Cheers.

[@PeatedPete]

Such a letdown, I will never buy this! Totally agree with Green label, so good when on offer.

[@JeffWhisky]

The difference between Blue and Green is night and day, I need to replace my Green Label at one point. Have you tried any other JWs? Cheers for watching!

[@PeatedPete]

@JeffWhisky yeah both black versions too, the 18yr old and the gold one. I like all but the smokier black label, it wasn't for me, I love peated/smokey whisky too but it was just off to me. The 18yr I really enjoyed.

[@0529mpb]

It is very watered down. It would likely be very good between 50 and 55 percent. It should be a $70 scotch as is with the deluxe packaging.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers Michael, I agree at a greater strength this could really come to life and be a brilliant blend though they certainly would ramp up the costs from not being able to spread it as far!

[@kirbycalgary2844]

Congratulations, Jeff as for the Johnny Walker I will always buy it not because I think it is a great whiskey but because my sister loves it and only ever has it when I bring it for her and I love her to death I could bring her a 40 year old bottle of something super special and she would rather have Johnny Walker blue Here in Calgary on sale I can usually get it for 260 Canadian but for $130 I can get a bottle of habiki harmony which I think taste exactly the same and to be honest I think it’s overpriced at $130 so Johnny Walker is definitely over but my sister is worth it

[@jcandrews308]

Congrats on the 2k. Well deserved. Very much overpriced in South Africa. Haven't tried it, would try if offered to taste, but definitely won't buy. For the price of this, I can almost get the Port Charlotte 10, Ledaig 10 and an Ardbeg 10; or a Glencadam 10, Tamdhu 12 and a Deanston 12. The special blue Umami one is a whole Kilchoman Machir bay CS or classic laddie extra over the standard.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers Jason, still can't believe I have crossed 2k! I know what I would take out of those options and there really is so much better whisky you can get for so much less. Thanks for watching!

[@gustavjansson6499]

Is the Green Label more worth it than Blue Label?

[@JeffWhisky]

In my opinion the Green Label is a much better whisky and currently here in the UK you can buy 4 Green Labels for the price of Blue Label. Hope it helps Gustav, thanks for watching.

[@gustavjansson6499]

@@JeffWhisky which one would you choose between the gold label reserve and the 18?

[@ViktorCosta-n2p]

I just bought my first bottle today

[@Disasterpiece5150]

When I sell my house and pocket a little change I will finally buy a bottle of blue as celebration

[@JeffWhisky]

It would be rude not to! Though, I would say a house may be better value than this... Cheers

[@ricky5369]

I would describe the diet soda taste as the sweetener, "aspartame" to be generic

[@petevj]

Blue Label is the £50 wagyu beef burger of whisky. It's better than other burgers but an Angus prime rib is objectively better. Unless what you fancy is a burger.

[@JeffWhisky]

"The Wagyu burger of Whisky" It should be put on the box! Cheers for watching!

[@christinecamley]

$405 in Canada! Nope! I’ve had it several times. Overrated!

[@petevj]

@@christinecamley whisky is all about personal taste, so if you think BL is overrated then you're right. If I think it has its place then I'm right, unless you know my taste better than I do?

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Whew so glad you didn't buy a full size bottle of this 😅. Congratulations on 2000 subscribers!

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks! Yeah was great to have a mate lend it to me and he is happy with it so is win win! Thanks, aiming at 3k now to spread the bottle slap word. Cheers!

[@pman3226]

I realized JW Blue was a marketing gimmick when I taste tested blue and black and couldn't tell the difference. Thankfully I didn't buy my bottle of blue.

[@ricky5369]

omg I've never seen any of these references in culture, I NEVER knew Johnnie Walker Blue was known by most people. As a whisky enthusiast, that's an embarrassment.

[@whiskamyaway]

There is another reason why it is tilted. Surprised you didn’t ask me anything about it 😢

[@JeffWhisky]

Do enlighten us with the insider JW knowledge Amy!

[@whiskamyaway]

@@JeffWhisky the label is to do with standing out on shelves. Alongside the reason you stated of being able to have more on the label. There’s other packaging designs of standard Blue. There’s Cities of the Future, A Timourous Beastie (for Flora and Fauna of Scotland), two icon designs and now the Halo X Scott Naismith designs - which are personalised due to a quiz and comes out with a landscape painting according to the answers. There’s also the Elusive Umami Blue label which some different flavours. This is the only standard blue label that has other flavours. The others are just different packaging.

[@jimmyjazz4605]

Great video sir. I haven't had a JW in a while, but if i were to buy one, I agree that it would be the Green Label 😁 It's actually quite decent considering the price & ABV.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers Jimmy! Yeah Green Label certainly is the dram to go for out of the range. I am working on a HUGE JW project at the moment where will be trying nearly all of them and assuming the green will come out on top... we shall see!

[@jimmyjazz4605]

@@JeffWhisky oooooo! Sounds cool

[@meuo922]

A whisky to be tried but certainly not buyed! congrats on 2k Jeff

[@JeffWhisky]

That is a great way to look at it. I am glad to have enjoyed it but I won't be buying one myself. Cheers!

[@modulo3664]

I liken JWBlue to a Rolex watch; a known standard of quality though overpriced (but nowhere near the most expensive possible), possibly the most recognizable name in the world. There is much, much more value for money to be had elsewhere all things considered.

[@JeffWhisky]

Cheers for watching! Great comparison, also with a similar slightly shady practice of only selling to the "right people" too.

[@wineway2079]

Sounded a little Aussie there Jeff

[@JeffWhisky]

As in at the very beginning? I noticed that too... I am trying to expand my audience

[@philalape3452]

Too much silliness to wade through to get to the info

[@JeffWhisky]

You are not wrong Phil, I very much lean into the "daft side of whisky". Hopefully the chapters in the video help you jump to the bits you are after, or find a reviewer more inline with your tastes. Cheers.

[@machdon]

No, it is not worth the cost! No matter how silky it is. So Silky!

[@JeffWhisky]

haha you are not wrong. Silky is the best word to describe it! Cheers for watching

[@Koby616]

Congratulations 👏 haven't tried it. Looks like way overpriced whiskey. I had johnie Walker green. I think it has 43 abv and 15 years old statement. Wasn't very impressive.

[@JeffWhisky]

Yeah the 15 year old Green Label has a higher abv and for me massively out preforms this Blue Label. If you was not impressed by the Green you can certainly skip the Blue by miles! Cheers for watching

[@Koby616]

@@JeffWhisky thanks for the review :)

[@mjardeen]

No...

[@JeffWhisky]

Would have saved me 13 minutes and 41 seconds! Cheers for getting involved Michael!

[@mjardeen]

@@JeffWhisky Green and Gold are much better. Red is cocktail piss, and I do enjoy the Blacks when no Islay is available.

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Jeff, congrats on 2k subs 👍. I’ll leave the blue for the rich men at the golf clubs. If I was to buy a Johnny walker then it would be the 15 and that’s dropped in quality as well. Slàinte Jeff.

[@JeffWhisky]

Thanks David, proud to have made it this far. Yeah, I don't feel that Blue Label is for us and that is fine. JW15 Green label for the win. Cheers!!