ralfy review 1032 - Johnnie Walker Red Label (2024)

/ ralfy . This is my Patreon channel, for videos released 24 hours early and with an extra weekly 'Update' video. Every month there is also a 'BothyLive' 90 minute live-stream from the bothy with a Q&A.
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[@dksculpture]

Tell us what you really think Ralphy. 😂 Great review/rant. A Ralfy classic!

[@Johnstone72]

This is what JW does to a Man.

[@VazzVegas]

I was half expecting him to clean his toilet with it 😆.

[@dksculpture]

@@VazzVegas 😂😂😂

[@srowley85]

The last time I had JW Red label was in rural Iowa, where it was the best on offer. I purchased a bottle and carried it by bike with some of my father’s ashes for about 60 km. I left the ashes at my grandparents’ graves and drank my father’s memory with a group of friends. The whisky did the trick, but I always wished I’d been able to find a single malt for the occasion.

[@rnedisc]

Have you seen the ad some marketing student made for JW? It would probably resonate with you and it's absolutely beautiful. Look up "dear brother johnnie walker".

[@passengersplace]

Diageo ran an advertisement for JW Black with a very similar plot!

[@overdose0074]

There are SO MANY whiskey review channels and they all do the same thing: speak about the same notes in every single pour, and act like they're surprised every now and then. Thank you for being unique and educating

[@revolvermaster4939]

I had a bottle once, lasted for several years of cleaning fishing reels.

[@JonnyParker-]

We appreciate the real talk Ralfy man . Massive respect as always.

[@adamcollins6882]

25 thousand people have watched this video and only 1500 people have ticked the like button. If you want more Ralfy videos please tick the ''like'' button when you watch his videos. Show some support please if you could. It costs you nothing and keeps the channel going. Thanks, Adam.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I loved everything about this review. I laughed out loud about the Blue Label and Macallen comments. Wonderful job Ralfy!

[@VazzVegas]

I appreciate him continually calling out the obvious (but not to all) decline of JW Green label as well.

[@johnandrus3901]

@@VazzVegas Green used to be excellent, but it still is, probably, the best JW offers. They do have special editions of Blue, which are bottled in the mid-fifty percent ABV range. I really wish that they would do some special editions of Green Label, non-chill filtered and higher ABV, but I doubt that will ever happen. Too bad.

[@VazzVegas]

@@johnandrus3901 They have the Island Green, which is a Duty Free exclusive and not much more expensive. It was one of the first Scotches I ever bought and I remember loving it. I need to get myself another one to see if it's still the same quality.

[@Carleton.Weaver]

Early into this video I thought "Oh, this is different, Ralfy must be reaching out to new viewers." Then the story of his early and brief days as barman came out. Classic Ralfy and true to form. Great stuff.

[@rubenvanderkooij1571]

Love it! But what I learned at my photography academy is that when you capture people walking to the left, they walk home, to a safe place. When people walk to the right, they go out of their homes and on an adventure :) That trick is used heavily in marketing and commercials :)

[@raycroal]

good answer

[@grbadalamenti]

Interesting hidden gem❤

[@evenbiggerboss]

What a joke. How would that even be?

[@rubenvanderkooij1571]

@@evenbiggerboss Just think of a man walking to the left, and what it makes you feel. Then do the same with a person walking to the right. Then look at all the photos you see in advertising, and your eyes will see :)

[@Wekotin]

This is the explanation i’ve heard as well. Going right is leaving and going left returning psychologically atleast. Loved Ralfy’s theory as well.

[@nealbruce5914]

A neighbor has a 28 year old bottle or JW Red that is astoundingly different. It is actually pleasant to drink. So very different! I also thought it was a single malt! Totally different!

[@jenmac287]

It doesn't age in the bottle

[@nealbruce5914]

I was pointing out that 28 years ago Red was a different and better juice! Having both was an interesting comparison.

[@chestermarcol3831]

@@jenmac287 - Wow....

[@comradesomo]

I've had the same thing drinking 80s era Black Label. Totally unrecognisable to today's whisky.

[@IndridCold.]

Blended whiskey isn't what it used to be, vast production has taken over, overused casks and deliberate blandness,or as they like to call it, smoothness.

[@fisk159]

Thank you for this. This got me smiling.😀

[@88johnbarnes]

You know classic whisky cocktails like manhattans, old fashioned, whisky sours, gold rushes to name a few is what led me onto my whisky journey. So for me there's nothing wrong with cocktails in my opinion. Thank you for the review Ralfy, all the best. 😊🥃

[@johnandrus3901]

My dad's favorite drink was an Old Fashioned. He grew up during Prohibition, so he liked the one with the muddle, which was used to make the whiskey taste better during that time. My parents would make Whiskey Sours, for guests, which always went over quite well. I still enjoy an Old Fashioned fairly often and Rob Roy's, too, which are Scotch Manhattans. Cheers!

[@88johnbarnes]

@johnandrus3901 The old fashioned is an absolute classic. Definitely helped me understand and enjoy whisky. So many different whisky cocktails to enjoy. All part of the journey. I find myself enjoying single malts nowadays but I'll have to try a rob roy now you've mentioned it! Cheers to you and good health. 🥃🥃

[@rnedisc]

Saying people's lifes are meaningless just because they drink JW bluelabel is pretty harsh. I'd say they just don't know any better. That's all. And you can't really blame them, you can only educate them. Marketing is and always will be a powerful tool.

[@11thstalley96]

You make some good points and I would like to add one of my own. The seemingly pretentious folks who can be enthralled by marketing can very well not know any better, but my observations tend to make me think that many of them are willfully ignorant and don’t care about anything other than what other people think of them. I don’t want to be so presumptuous as to put myself in a position of judging others because a disinterested observer could never know everything that motivates others, although rampant superficiality can be very telling if it pervades an entire lifestyle.

[@125ctg]

You could equally damn the ever growing ‘connoisseurs’ who watch Ralfy et al then look down their noses at those who don’t understand the holy trinity, 46% ABV and above, NCF and no added colour. (And no doubt wishing they were able to afford a Lamborghini).

[@brucesnz]

Well, damn, I don't know about everyone else but I'm feeling engaged, informed, entertained and in good humour.

[@mrnosebear7406]

Here in Germany you could by a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label for 10.99 EUR when it is heavily discounted in the supermarket. Cheerio and slainte mhath P.S. You are a snob, Ralfy. This is the reason why we love you.

[@martingrafton4844]

Yes indeed, I bought one from Edeka for 10 € a couple of days ago (to mix with Ginger Ale and fresh lime).

[@terrortower666]

Ahhh JW RL. An absolute staple of the average bar and supermarket shelf. Goes beautifully with ice cubes or coke 😉

[@samernohra4278]

Thank you for your service, sir. Laughed my heart out!

[@michaelwood3203]

Interestingly I have a JW Islay edition 12 year blended malt @ 42%. It is acceptable on its own but I been halving it with Cutty Sark Prohibition at 50% and weirdly they become very good. The JW was about £35 for a litre.

[@kimoliver5848]

i need to try that

[@garysutton6190]

JW Red was the first Scotch that I ever purchased when I turned 21 and began working in a liquor store. It still fills the bill with soda on the rocks. The price has certainly increased since the late 70's but that goes for a lot of spirits since that time.

[@michaelshockley6294]

also my first. actually, it was my first purchase of alcohol altogether - mostly, I just drank it with Coke. It tastes like water to me neat and on its own.

[@robfut9954]

And this is why it’s important that cheap basic scotch exists. And if JW want to advertise it to bring more to scotch then that’s a service to scotch

[@michaelshockley6294]

@@robfut9954 I came to scotch almost the same way that I did to coffee - as a child, my parents got me used to coffee by mixing coco with it until they had gradually taken all of the coco out and I was drinking black coffee. With cheap scotch and soda, I have done the same for whisky.

[@bryanwalker1737]

File this under: Best of Ralfy! Outstanding, sir. However, let me say that I am fairly new to Scotch, coming from the bourbon, rye, and Texas whiskey world. Single malts, at first, tasted bland and metallic to me. I then switched to blends, and JWRed was my first. After half a bottle over several weeks, it finally clicked with me. It tasted and smelled of the Texas Gulf Shore. I was nosing and tasting the salt breeze, seaweed, sea water... and I loved it. JWRed was the first Scotch I came to appreciate. I have moved upward and onward in my journey, but I still love JWRed neat.

[@andrewh9629]

A classic rant for sure. Had an 80s black label a few years back. Really nice.

[@albertmiller3082]

Thank you Ralfy - as a Patreon member, this review was a treat. 👏🏻

[@Mose2305]

OMG the E-150 in the Johnny Walker Red is literally blinding me, but truthfully could never take it seriously when an unnamed publication rated it higher than a non chill filtered 18 yo Glendronnach Allardice. What excellent and entertaining review Ralfy! Cheers!

[@velviaman3206]

My father worked for the firm who imported thousands of tons of maize ( corn ) from the USA for the Distillers co ltd ( owners of JW KILMARNOCK ) for their column still whisky . In Kilmarnock we always referred to the striding man.

[@grbadalamenti]

I read that there is no more production of JW in Kilmarnock

[@velviaman3206]

@@grbadalamenti For many years their slogan for the striding man was “ Born 1820 still going strong” After 190 years the one time largest bottling plant in the world closed. The town was devastated as generations of the same family worked there.

[@hificave]

Cheers Ralfy! I was given a 50 year old bottle (new old stock) from a friend’s father who I helped out( he had it in the back of his cabinet like you said, untouched). And day 1, opened it first sip was bitter and almost heavy on sulfur… i let the bottle open for 30 minutes, then I put it back in the cupboard… reopened it a week later… wow! I couldn’t believe how fascinating the flavor was compared to a new bottle. Great video Ralfy.

[@barlotardy]

Last year at the bar I work for: Bar manager: "We're finally getting a scotch!" Me, a Ralfy subscriber: "Fantastic! Which one??" Manager: "JW red!" Me: "Oh no.....no no no NO...."

[@richardbostan4286]

It sounds like you work at a bar that didn't have ANY scotch before that. How is it possible that a bar didn't have even a single scotch?

[@the8ctagon]

​@@richardbostan4286 Maybe it's a juice bar.

[@barlotardy]

@@richardbostan4286 It's a VERY small, barebones speakeasy-style bar.

[@passengersplace]

@@barlotardy What alcohol DID you have before you took the "radical step" of branching out into scotch? By the looks of it you could list the whole menu in a KZbin comment.

[@barlotardy]

@@passengersplace 10 basic liquors, 6 beer taps, and two wines....from a box. (2 bourbons, 1 irish whiskey, 1 gin, 3 vodkas for some reason, 2 rums, one tequila.) It's not much, but it pays the rent.

[@jameskaaden6437]

Great fun to watch Ralfy! I thought the change in direction of the walking man was related to cinematographic shorthand. When a character is travelling right to left, they are returning home. Left to right, as with the newer label, they are heading out on their adventure.

[@kevinnordby4808]

Well done Ralfy! This is the best review I’ve seen all year.

[@jfbrko290]

Glad to see you're still making videos! Over 10 years ago when I first found your channel, you were singularly responsible for me going out to local liquor stores to look for some of the whiskeys you were tasting. That's when I found my first bottle of Glenfiddich 18. I enjoyed that bottle for the next few years.

[@TheMetalGBG]

It's still insightful even if Red Label isn't my first choice of "buzz inducing liquid". Good single malts are getting very expensive.

[@alexfranchuk9608]

The Black Label would be my next pick then

[@eric4714]

Agreed...some single malts have basically doubled in price since the pandemic in the states. Paying $70-80 for the same thing I used to buy for $40 in 2020.

[@moeafram2520]

Yup, even my two everyday malts, Laphroiag 10 and Bunnahabhain 12, have made me sip slower these days with the upward price creep...

[@SimonneNZ]

My first whisky was JW Black over 30 years ago, and I used to drink it with ice. I tried JW Red back then too, in a bar, and wasn't impressed at all. Never had it since. Cheers!

[@xxLIBERTYorDETHxx]

Agreed on the vintage JW. After my grandparents past I came across an old bottle of red. I couldn't believe it was the same stuff. Still not a premium spirt, but within context of the new tripe? I'd actually buy JWR if it was still a flavorful as the vintage bottle, at the right price of corse.

[@dantheman7357]

Another impressive and enjoyable review from our friend Ralfy. I have used JW Red Label as my night-cap Scotch for years as a sleep aid. You described its pros and cons to perfection. You also explained why its made and where it fits into the market. Red Label is affordable and good for beginners so its an important first drink that may lead to the Glenfarklas and other great Single Malts when the consumer learns how to choose, test, and decide what he/she likes and dislikes. I thoroughly enjoyed your fun style as well [as usual ]. Thanks Ralfy.

[@TommyDye]

Thanks! I did think the taste had changed, but I do not have the expertise to quantify it!

[@johnlgirvan8956]

Entertaining as always, Ralfy. I'm a dedicated malt head but I buy this as nightcap sipping whisky, usually at £20 a litre. I remember the first time I tried RL and thought I'd just swallowed an ashtray! It was so smokey. It is now a fairly tame, inoffensive dram with just a hint of its smokey heritage.

[@basbas63]

At least continuity in this means less surprises. Really cool to see this being revisited, very few sources out there that continue to check things in such a manner as time goes by. Thank you for that. Can remember my grandparents had an old unopened bottle of red label in their cupboard and they gave it to me, it was my first experience with the brand. Still no idea what age exactly but it was good. Bought a new bottle ~5 years ago hoping for the best. It wasn't bad but surely did disappoint compared to expectations.

[@spykerf1545]

Love a good ole Ralfy Rant!!!! I wouldn't even put this in a cocktail. I'll drink the Green label, but I draw the line there. Cheers!

[@coslifehurts]

Love it. I bought a 1970 red label and looking forward to opening. I was able to taste a similar bottle and it was fabulous - waxy, nutty and def sherry influenced.

[@alanlauder1476]

I'd love to compare a Bells from 40 or 50 years ago to the product they churn out today. I bought a bottle of the new stuff just for old times sake a few months ago, and I honestly could have wept...it was so 'thin' and flavourless.

[@jchock1]

I love this channel! Preach it Ralphy to this group of Malted Many! I bought this for my uncle several years ago as a gift, and if I’m quoting him he said it was “tasted like pouring piss water out of a boot”. Now that I’m educated I love a good Campbletown 12

[@JReyes624]

I don't drink much whiskey these days, more of a beer or classic cocktail guy now, but I still love tuning in to get Ralfy's perspective on things. Many wise words beyond whiskey. Thank you for years of quality videos and chats.

[@DarthFurball]

Love it. All set for the Green and Blue Label reviews next!

[@carlubambi5541]

Thank you Ralphy .Got a bottle of Gw Green as a gift ..Too peaty to drink alone for me but it does pair well with smoked meats or smoked salmon of all things ..I won a bottle of Black at a stag party on a loonie toss .have not opened it yet .It's at least 10 years ago .Kept in my wine cellar

[@J43rv1]

Ralfy been a fan since at least your first red label review. You really helped me understand Scotch years ago when I was initially getting into it as a young guy. Thank you for being honest and consistent all these years. And on behalf of Americans I'm sorry you have to know what Walmart and Costco are.

[@EugeneMaria]

The Truth sometimes Hurts. But it also Teaches. Be Well and Thank You Kindly ☮️

[@barryg1965]

Thanks for your oversight and educated opinion.

[@char_jaime9549]

Very honest review, good job Ralfy

[@dennis85573]

Last weekend I tried a 1990s Bells and Chivas Regal both 12 yr. old and the were also 43 ABV. These were sensational compared to todays versions.

[@jarvy251]

I find red label has a buttery texture that is not unpleasant, but your harshness is justified. For a fraction of the price, I can get much more enjoyable Canadian blends, or for just a few dollars more, get a decent single malt - Auchentoshan and Singleton are regularly on sale and they are a steal.

[@risknerd1772]

Great episode, Ralfy. Thank you.

[@andrawhh]

My last red label was at least 8 or 9 years ago. Drank it with ginger ale, that was fine. But I immensely enjoy the 15yo green label! At discount you can get it for under 40€ in Germany. :)

[@fredlabosch5164]

_VERY_ generous mark for a contemporary bottle of JW Red! My take on why they changed the direction of the "Striding Man" also has to do with subliminal sales psychology: Up until 1999 the vast majority of whisky was sold within the _western_ hemisphere, hence he walks towards the _west_ . In 1997 Diageo had formed, one of their business decisions was to heavily invest in uprising markets like China, India and the like, hence the decision to let the Striding Man walk towards the _east_ .

[@familiewillems3645]

My first comparisons decades ago were actually different Scotch - Cutty Sark, JW and Whyte&Mackay ans so on. I would like to see more vids like this - thumbs up.

[@retireeelectronics2649]

Funny thing is I will mix rum with cola, pickled cherries in vodka, but I have never mixed whisky with anything. Been binge watching your videos with notepad in hand and internet to find what I can get in Canada. Have a good day

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

It’s probably also to do the with the western reading direction in visual media. Left to right is generally with the grain (often the heros orientation) and the reverse is against the grain. So it’s used to reinforce various visual dynamics and convey all sorts of narrative elements in visual narrative.

[@christinecamley]

This was fabulous! I cannot drink JW whisky - I think they are all horrific - but I find it so interesting that the vintage bottling was of a significantly higher quality. Terrific teaching Ralfy!

[@yusufsayed1583]

Hello Again 😊 Awesome👌🏽 Greetings From South Africa 🇿🇦

[@grbadalamenti]

My JW Red Label from the 80s is peaty as hell. This is my second bottle from that era and the more it opens and oxidates, the more the peat hits me in the face. I'm still struggling to pick the Clynelish waxiness. Very different from what's in the bottle nowadays.

[@WBO-lp3cp]

Honest rant. I buy it from time to time to get my bearings and keep my feet on the ground. Drank it yesterday after a dram of Longrow. Great reference point. Always have some JW around for easy mindless drinking or visitors like you said, those on whom single malt is utterly wasted.

[@JonnyParker-]

Bloody hell haha treat your visitors with more care please 😂

[@WBO-lp3cp]

@JonnyParker- if they are not lovers of the Malt, they get what they deserve

[@chestermarcol3831]

Surly ralfy is the BEST ralfy LOL!! It's like bleeding out, from a thousand tiny punctures, brought on by a fencing foil. LOL The choice of Scotch was just a vehicle to facilitate a good old-fashioned ass-whipping of the trite, pub crawling clones. And I love it. JWB in colored glass and a spotlight. Sublime... LOL

[@michaelgoodwin593]

I think these JW blends and Glenfiddich malts, especially the special editition airport specials which are probably dud batches are absolutely brilliant. They keep people away from the good stuff. Can you imagine the cost if demand for the nice whiskeys were being used by people for cocktails etc.

[@grouchypseudopod354]

Due to import fees and the price of scotch in the US, I've taken to drinking more American whiskey, so I, unfortunately watch less from the bothy. But I thought I ought to check in on the channel. Happy I did. Slainte!

[@francisdec1615]

I prefer single malt, but some American whiskies are good but expensive here in Sweden. About $46 for a 700 ml Wild Turkey 101 Proof.

[@BDCF100]

Come on Ralfy; don't hold back so much. LOL As an aside I came back a week ago from 3 weeks in Asia. First a week in Singapore in the high rent district of Orchard Road. I wandered through several 'nice' Whisky shops looking for a decent bottle to take onward to my next stop in Indonesia. All three shops had a wall of Macallan of every iteration and on another wall a high-lighted featured Blue Label in a position of reverence. I even looked down for a prayer rug to kneel upon. There were limited quantities (1) of the usual subjects of the Single Malts; Highland Park, Aberlour, Lagavulin, etc. I did find a shelf with 5 versions of Kilchoman. Several of which were limited releases for that market. That was the choice. There had to have been better shops around, but I quit looking after a very nice Kilchoman attached itself to me. P.s Fifty years ago I was buying JW Black for $4 USD a bottle from the American Embassy Commissary in Santiago, Chile.

[@mattlindberg2843]

Hilarious, Ralfy! Thoroughly enjoyed the no holds barred review. Even though I remember enjoying this bottle as one of my initial whiskey purchases several years ago. I agree it has its purpose. Cheers 🥃

[@Retired_Gentleman]

I have a bottle of Alberta Springs Sipping Whisky given to my father in 1971. The whisky was bottled in 1970 according to the government band over the cork making the whisky 53 years in the bottle. It was kept unopened in its cedar display box the entire time. I opened it shortly after his death last year to honour his memory. I was expecting a mediocre drink but was surprised at how good it was. I'd even call it excellent. I'll have a dram from it each November to remember his passing. So, I'd say Ralfy is absolutely correct in his perspective. Spirits we have now are often only a pale shadow of spirits we had.

[@jamesangus7253]

Over on Facebook a few of us have put together a pack of 18 different blended whiskies under 40 a bottle all tries blind This JW Red was the first one out and although not pulling up trees it was decent and not a bad whisky.

[@Twobarpsi]

It is what it is, and that's ok. I don't look for water in the desert either. There have been times, that I'm in the middle of nowhere (or on a flight as you aptly mentioned), and wanted a whisky. There won't be a fine single malt, but JW will be there to scratch that itch. Cheers Ralfy!!

[@douglasyoung9320]

Ah ha Ralfy you’ve been flying BA. I too was the recipient of said beverage on a BA flight returning from a Calcutta cup victory at Twickenham. Apparently it’s whisky so they tell me. 🤔

[@rodmac8358]

What a masterclass!

[@archloy]

Yes, it's definitively for people who wants a bit of alcohol in their soda. Personally, this kind of whiskey is for me just ethanol, I do not taste more (maybe, my tongue remember my young men days ^^'). Anyway, little question to a whisky connaisseur : A friend of mine give me (as a gift) a bottle, I can't find this here, maybe you know : the lakes N°5. If you already try it and have a review, I'm curious. It taste strange for me (brown sugar I guess), so I'm looking around for honest reviews. And thanks for your videos ! It helps !

[@macgibbon]

The one thing I like about Blue Label is that unlike almost every other whisky, it makes buying and owning it an event. Any 18 year old, Talisker, Caol Ila, etc, you get a regular box just like every other bottle. Blue Label, you get a fancy rigid box, a fancy looking bottle with a fancy looking medallion. None of it improves the whisky, and none of it is ACTUALLY fancy, but it makes the experience feel special compared to almost everything else.

[@RebMordechaiReviews]

You do of course realise that you are paying for all that bling. Still, I appreciate your honesty. You are a marketing department's dream customer.

[@macgibbon]

@@RebMordechaiReviews Of course I'm paying for it, but in the whiskies at a similar price, you get the same carton you get for every other price level. At least they do something interesting and different.

[@RebMordechaiReviews]

@@macgibbon I have to admit to being initially unsure as to whether you were being sarcastic and amused by your comment, or whether you were actually being serious. However, I've just read your profile and I see that you are regular to Ralfy's channel.. I have actually come across people who hold the view you expressed. So, let's assume for a moment that you were serious, your declared preference for Blended Scotch Whisky in fancy packaging pre-supposes that in your view, the whisky inside is of equal quality, complexity, interest and drinking enjoyment as say (one of the examples you gave), the wonderful Caol Ila 18 (which happens to be one of my all time favourite single malts). Alternatively, you simply don't care what the whisky tastes like. Unfortunately there are more people like this than we care to admit. If there weren't, then JW Blue Label and Royal Salute etc, wouldn't exist.

[@gordonirvine726]

EXTREMELY entertaining Ralfy! 😂

[@johngilbert5981]

I acquired a bottle of Johnnie Walker red from a friend who is clearing out their parents cabinet, almost full and probably from the 1970s maybe early '80s and it is amazing how fantastic it is and what this used to be and also quite sad what it's become

[@whiskyweekenddram]

For a cocktail you also need good whisky @ralfy, it makes a lot of diffrence, also I like from time to time a highball with peated whisky!

[@Thillonoz]

Thanks for the honesty. It's a lost art these days. Must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the Black Label. I guess I was expecting something far worse than I got, I was imagining Famouse Grouse, which to me is like drinking isopropyl alcohol. I mean it has to be at least 5 times as good as Red Label.

[@paulwilliams698]

Best whiskey review I have ever listened to, looking forward to next session .

[@peterlittle6651]

Absolute entertainment, thanks Ralfy

[@davet7185]

Good gracious me Ralfy....I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw you were review JW Red! 😲. However as always, you meet the E.E.E.H. criteria and that in itself is an integrity presentation. Meanwhile back on the single malt trail.....😌😼.

[@stefanpeyton8412]

Hmmn. Big fan Ralphy but it seems a bit ott to suggest that everyone who drinks blended whisky does it to get “pished”! What about the “quality”blends (Chivas, Dimple Pinch, Monkey Shoulder etc) and the skill of blenders over the decades? I don’t drink blended whisky but it surely must have a valid part in the whisky pantheon especially as a lot of Distilleries owe their existence in the past to blends.

[@martingrafton4844]

Well, I for one drink blended to get pished.

[@mixalic]

A video about comparing whiskey from different generations of Johnny Walker was my first video of this channel. A colleague shared it with me in 2013, and since then I have been interested in whiskey. A cool reference to the past, thanks you! P.S. I was waiting for ice, but it didn't show up)

[@matthanna7162]

After watching this review, to quote Gilbert O'Sullivan, 'if I'm not feeling any less sour, I promise myself to treat myself & visit a nearby tower, climbing to the top, will throw myself off.......' 😢

[@gerrylangford6485]

1976 I worked in a pub in London, there was a row of optics behind the bar with about 10 different whiskeys. All bar one, the one the manager used to drink, contained Vat 69.

[@Ivorbiggin]

Gerry are we to assume then they were all topped up from a cheap super market scotch then, other than the Vat 69 ? ……lol

[@gerrylangford6485]

@@Ivorbiggin they were all topped up with vat69. Apart from the one single malt. And you know what? In the six months I was there, nobody complained.

[@Ivorbiggin]

@@gerrylangford6485 Ha ha that doesn’t surprise me, it was the same in the pub that I worked in ! Which wasn’t far from London back in the late 70’s ……probably a common occurrence

[@erdogangurman3151]

Thank you very much Ralfy for your sincere reviews.

[@nekronambassador3352]

Insightful as always Ralfy. The only time I drink a blend, which is Chivas Regal 12, is when I do not want to think about what I am drinking or feel like getting "phished" (not sure of the spelling here lol). Yes, part of the reason I enjoy your videos is due to your frequent esoteric statements on various matters. I appreicate those highly. That said, asides from my Chivas, I find myself not guzzling my quality single malts ever. My Balblair, Glen Scotia and cask strength Bunnahabhain are defintiely sippers of which a couple glencairns last me all night.

[@bnernganmont]

after too many drinks, i can hold it together almost as well as Ralphy. BUt he is he king

[@djbeacon6895]

ralfy, enjoyed this episode, especially your take on being a bartender.

[@williamevans9426]

What single malt (or good modern blend - if there is such a beast) would you recommend to a newcomer to the field? Many thanks!

[@johnandrus3901]

A nice review. I keep a number of very good single malts in my house and I enjoy them neat. Johnnie Walker, though, does fill a niche. If you like a Rob Roy, which is just Scotch with vermouth, basically a Manhattan, it fits the bill. I do enjoy drinking an excellent cocktail, made by a top bartender. Nothing sweet or syrupy, just decent blend of good ingredients. They do hit the spot at dinner. One of my whiskey friends and a great bartender, will make a Rob Roy with JW Red and put a bar-spoon of Laphroaig in it. What a difference that makes. Either way, I keep some JW Red and Black in my bar, just for friends who indifferent about Scotch. They also have some special edition Blue bottlings that are in the 50%+ abv range. As far as old whiskeys go, I have a bottle of Crown Royal from 1965, the first year it was imported into the States. Still sealed and I'll never open it. I have a '67, also. I think that they got pushed to the back of my parents liquor cabinet, for some reason and forgotten about. I found them when we were selling their house. Either way, good single malt, neat, for me and JW for friends who just want to have something to drink.

[@stevendouglass8795]

Yes, you are 100% correct - one can add whatever you want as you experiment with the whiskies and other cordials in your cabinet I drink them every which way - always experimenting. I love to try new taste combos - it's the flavor that interests me, not the buzz. Mix your own at home and enjoy every nip

[@evgenyuspenyev7887]

Talking about column stills, ain't it a time to dip into a couple of Loch Lomond single grain outlaws ))

[@DileepB]

Has the % mix of malt vs grain changed over the years in the blended scotch whiskies?

[@Nick-dz7uz]

Even though you weren't there, you accurately described my last weekend and the consequences

[@robcarter3341]

Love you Ralfy. You brought the world of scotch to me years ago.

[@frankricci88]

Totally agree about the quality of old bottlings of JW Red (and J&B, Dewars, Cutty Sark, etc) being *significantly* better than modern productions. I believe this must be due to the modern preference for single malts (hence the blends fall by the wayside in terms of quality expectations)

[@newmoderndisco6620]

I once did a blind tasting with a bunch of my bar guests with the Johnnie blue and the red just for a laugh and after 8 rounds the score was 5-3 for the red...that should tell us all we need to know about this brand...cheers Ralfy! Currently sipping an independent Bunnahabhain over here in the states. Been a fan since review #1

[@stevendouglass8795]

Can't get Bell's here in The States - another good whisky. Ditto McPink Sheep Dip 1990 was not produced in any volume - rare gem. Sadly, I drank every bottle I bought. Never thought to ask if it was limited. Excellent dram

[@xXturbo86Xx]

I tend to avoid this one, but the last one i had was different. It was quite sweet with a few drops of warm water.

[@simonsherratt1484]

Finally, the one I've been waiting for!

[@theUnArtist]

The Red Label is actually the best JW especially considering the cheap price. I've watched a video a few days ago where they did a blind test of 4 JWs- red, blue, green and gold 18yrs And the Red came out on top!

[@ytbenny1964]

I cringed when I saw the Ralfy was about to review the JW Red Label but I think he gave a very fair and honest opinion. The brand can open the door to your whisky journey and then quickly slam the door on itself as you explore and educate yourself. I truly appreciated the vintage comparison. Who knew?

[@ramonrodriguez2345]

The reason why Johnnie Walker changed the direction the man is walking on their label is actually psychological. Subconsciously, we associate the path from left to right with going to a new place or starting a journey, while from right to left feels like returning home. You can see many examples of this in movies; when adventurers set out, they almost always head from left to right