Johnnie Walker Red Label | Taste, Price, Drinks and Similar Whiskeys

The red label is one of the most popular blended whiskeys in the world. Its taste is surprisingly sweet and mild, and slightly malty on the palate with no trace of bitterness. You will also notice that a light smokiness comes to the fore, and not smoke like smoked ham, but that of mild campfire smoke. The red label’s finish is unexpectedly long. And despite its grainy taste, the whiskey is very good for its price tag!

Johnnie Walker Red Label is so popular because it meets the taste of many whiskey lovers and as well as high-quality requirements. The Scotch is also ideal for mixing in long drinks and cocktails alike.

When creating the Red Label, the Walker family used their encyclopedic knowledge of Scottish malts to produce a universal blend. It is a blended whiskey that is made up of many different malts. Each drop of Scotch contains a selection of 35 first-class malts. As a result, Red Label gained worldwide popularity in earlier days and continues to maintain it today.

The price of Johnnie Walker Red Label is between $18 to $20 for a 750ml bottle in the USA and between £20 to £22 in the UK, depending on where you buy from.

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Characteristics of the Red Label

Smell

Admittedly, the smell of the Red Label is not very inviting. It smells strongly alcoholic and you can only recognize a very slight sweetness. Not necessarily the best conditions for a good whiskey!

Taste

Its taste is much better than it smells. You can also notice the alcohol content of 40% here. However, you have to forgive a whiskey in this price range. On the palate, the Johnnie Walker Red Label Whiskey shows quite freshly paired with malty and smoky sounds as well as spicy tones and a touch of vanilla.

It is a typical whiskey from the Highlands, which combines its flavors in perfection with those of the Lowlands. Overall, the taste is a harmonious blend of sweetness, malt, smoke and spices. You can also clearly notice the mildness of the Lowland whiskeys and the power of the Highland whiskeys, which are united on the palate.

Johnny Walker Red Label contains a good amount of grain whiskey. This spirit is made from wheat, barley and other cereals (such as corn) in a continuous burning process relatively quickly. Therefore it tastes a bit like grains when drunken neat.

But we would recommend everyone to mix it with cola because the grainy whiskey flavor is not for everyone and you can taste it.

Color

The red label whiskey is light red-golden in color.

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Drinks with Red Label

Johnnie Walker Red Label is highly suited in whiskey cocktails and long drinks. It is distinctive enough not to be completely lost in the mix.

The mixture of the red label with cola is almost obvious. Certainly one of the most ordered whiskey long drinks in the world! 

Johnnie Cola actually brings an interesting combination into the glass. On the one hand, the whiskey tastes softer, with the cola covering the unsightly grainy taste of the red label. On the other hand, the existing flavors complement each other quite well.

In the mouth there is a sweet taste that is reminiscent of vanilla and a little bit of chewing gum. It definitely tastes better than it might sound! Again, the smoke comes through at the end of the drink and forms a nice finish.

Below are a few popular drink recipes with the red label.

Whiskey and Coke

2 oz whiskey
6 oz Coca-Cola
Lime Juice (optional)
Ice cubes

Rob Roy

2 oz Scotch whiskey
1 oz Red Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura
Ice cubes

Blood and Sand

1 oz Blended Scotch Whisky
3/4 oz Cherry Brandy Liqueur
3/4 oz Sweet vermouth
3/4 oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
¼ oz Lemon (optional, not an ingredient in the classic recipe)

Penicillin

2 oz Blended scotch whisky
3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz Honey-ginger syrup
1/4 oz Islay single-malt scotch
Garnish: Candied ginger

Whiskey Sour

1 1⁄2 oz whiskey
1 oz simple syrup
3⁄4 oz fresh lemon juice
1⁄4 oz egg white (optional)
1 maraschino cherry for garnish

Rusty Nails

1 1⁄2 oz Scotch whisky
3⁄4 oz Drambuie

Ice cubes

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Comparison with Similar Whiskeys

Among blends similar to the red label, Cutty Sark Blended Whiskey is the clear winner when it comes to price/quality ratio. Not only is it priced low, but it is also rated highly.

It is closely followed by the Famous Grouse Finest Blended whisky, which is the highest rated blend in the list below.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Price List

Below is a list of prices from stores across the USA.