In Scotland there aren’t many trees, not none but few and far between. Certainly not enough for firewood for everyone to stay warm, but they had thick bogs of peat moss everywhere. Peat moss is a thick, potently-earthy smelling moss that was easy to cut out in long thick strips like sod you would get for your yard. They would roll them into logs that looked very similar to rolled up logs of sod you would see today. They would dry those out and use those to burn to keep warm in the winter. When they began to make whiskey using malted barley, they used the only thing available to burn to smoke the barley; peat moss. By the time shipping became more prevalent and the possibility of bringing in wood to burn to smoke the barley instead of the peat was available, the pallets of the Scots had already grown not only accustomed to, but very fond of the flavors imparted by the peat. Thus it’s remained the standard, as have many other old world practices in scotch whiskey, since the beginning. Often even down to the point of maintaining a very similar process to smoke the barley, and in some cases still shifting the barley around the floor of the smoke room by hand to smoke everything evenly, which is an incredibly taxing job and where the term “monkey shoulder” comes from, referring to the dipped posture a man will develop over many years in that hunched position using a shovel for many hours a day.

Kurt: Everyone has their own palate and their own personal opinions Trenton: It tastes like a garbage can with cigarettes Kurt: No

A highball of Johnnie Walker Black and Ginger Ale is the perfect Summer drink. For a neat pour it's got to be the Green label

Time Stamps: 01:50 - Red 04:25 - High Rye 05:52 - Black 08:38 - Double Black 11:18 - Green 13:55 - Gold Reserve 16:43 - Blue

The Green Label is my favorite. It is just a blend of four different malt whiskies. So good!

9:03 Peat is just decomposed organic matter, so dead trees, plants, shrubs, grasses, etc. There are peat bogs all over the world, but especially in Scotland. There's a difference between peat bogs depending on where they are located. For example, peat from Islay is very medicinal because of its coastal influence. Peat from the mainland of Scotland does not have this medicinal character at all. So it all depends where the peat bogs are situated, what type of vegetation grows there and which influence the air or other factors has on them. The reason they started using peat back in the day was because it was cheap and readily available, that's all it was. The peat flavour gets in the whisky during the barley drying stage, where they use either hot air or a peat fire. The molecules in the smoke that comes off the peat fire attach themselves to the barley and stay attached during fermentation all the way through distillation, which makes for either a peaty or smokey flavour - which, by the way, is not the same. Some peated Scotches are more smokey than peated, think of Lagavulin vs Laphroaig. Lagavulin is very much smokey, Laphroaig is very medinically peaty. Maltings can influence the level of smokiness vs peatiness by either using peat that's more wet vs peat that's been dried out more. I say maltings because 90% (maybe even more) of the distilleries in Scotland do not dry/malt their barley anymore, they just buy it in according to their own specifications. I often read here that people don't want to try Scotch "because it's smokey/peated" but that's just not the case. There are plenty of distilleries that use unpeated barley - e.g. most of the Lowland and Speyside distilleries.

Historical note: Johnnie Walker Red was the preferred whisky of Winston Churchill. He drank it watered down throughout the day until he got to meals where he had wine and followed with champagne and 100 year old French brandy. At any rate, thanks for a look at the Johnnie Walker lineup. Have only tried the Red Label and that was probably 45 years ago.

I am not really a scotch guy but I feel like I want to try that High Rye now.

"......your nosing and palate is not quite trained to my level at this point." at 18:11 should become an instant classic!!! Keep it up, I learn something every time from you two in the most enjoyable and entertaining way.

Great review boys! The Johnnie Walker Green is my favorite offering from them by far…but I’ve never tried the High Rye. Looks like I’ll be picking that one up soon. It’s always a treat to see Trenton suffer through these Scotch videos! Cheers!

The 18 yr white is a solid choice. It runs around 90$ around South Texas but a good drink.

I feel like the green is the best product they have. I enjoy the double black as well. The blue is definitely not worth the price point

SLB Classics 0:15 Trenton found his non-shmedium 2:10 Kurt trying to take it easy on Trenton with scotch tasting notes 2:27 Trenton appears to try and listen to whiskey for the first time 3:02 Trenton expresses his love of scotch being forced down his throat 4:28 Trenton gets lost and mesmerized by the aroma 5:02 Trenton may have found a scotch he likes with that tasting face 6:22 Faint marker aroma 7:28 Trenton tries black again, but shakes his head in disgust again 9:05 Trenton almost learns about where peat comes from but Kurt needs to do more homework 9:58 Kurt is assigning pinning comment homework to Trenton 10:07 “double black and double bad” 11:10 Trenton needs a pallet cleanser after the double bad 11:54 Trenton is now snorting the scotch 13:02 a Cedar wood sandwich 14:00 Trenton sneaks the first sniff 14:38 Trenton is so bored with the lack of depth of flavors he yawned 16:22 Trenton nearly reverse snorts the bland scotch 16:23 Kurt, everyone has there personal pallets, Trenton (hold my beer), I feel like I just ate a cigarette from the trash of a TJ Maxx, Kurt, I take back what I said your opinion is wrong 17:10 10,000,000 casks 😮 Kurt did his HW 17:48 it’s a good thing Kurt doesn’t play poker with his poker face 18:10 Kurt lecturing Trenton on how to nose despite his surgery 18:18 Trenton lectures Kurt on not picking up cask strength 20:00 Kurt can’t stop saying creamy, hopefully doesn’t curdle in the alcohol 20:26 Trenton is impressed by Kurt’s word “tempered” 22:32 Trenton is going to willingly buy his own scotch?!? 23:28 Trenton finishing strong with a great face wipe. Claims a bug went in his nose

Great Review! Love it when you guys do entire line ups or Distillery reviews. Keep them going

Hi Kurt, Kurt here... I was a huge Blue Label customer. I would typically buy it by the case. Because I work in international banking and my wife in international economic development, we entertained very regularly asian friends, colleagues and clients. Blue Label was a very easy beverage to serve up because of its inherent quality and smooth "elegant' style. That all changed about ten years ago when JW changed not only the bottle shape, but also the quantity (750 down to 700) and evidently the blend. The quality dropped off a cliff. Because I bought so much I was invited to the offical launch here in Australia. Upon tasting the new bottling I knew immediately the enormous drop in quality. The next day I bought up 10 cases of the old bottling. Today, if you want to taste what JW Blue Label was, you need to buy JW King George V. I refuse to buy the new version... its like dish water compared to the old. Very very sad..!

My experience with Johnnies from this line up: Black - smells like acetone plus light smoke, tastes too sharp to enjoy sipping Green - smells of sweet fruits and wispy peat smoke, tastes sweet and spice and lovely to sip Gold - smells of sweet fresh fruits, tastes like nuts and is too watery to enjoy sipping Blue - smells of sweet ripe fruits and peaty whiffs, tastes sweet and nutty and good to sip If you want to make cocktails - buy the Black If you want to enjoy lovely sipping whisky with a whisky lover - buy the Green If you want to drink a lot of whisky neat in a party - buy the Gold If you want to shout out that you are rich - buy the Blue (60 dollars for the whisky, 140 dollars to tell people you are rich)

I got a pour of the Blue label from my grandpa’s this Christmas. I really enjoyed it. An elegant sweetness with some light woody backing.

Never had the high rye, so appreciate the review! My take on the rest: Red - terrible Black - decent drinking scotch, but there are much better options at that price. Great in a cocktail. Double Black - same as above, good but not great; a bit more fun served neat than the regular Black Green - excellent, best of the bunch in terms of enjoyment/money Gold - good dram, but far below average for its benchmark Blue - decadent and lovely, could be a regular buy IF it was $100-150 cheaper. As it stands, you can get a much more exciting scotch if you're shopping at this price point

Trenton is such a child when it comes to tasting things outside of his favorites.

Great video. I think the Green Label is the best thing they make and I actually prefer it to the Blue Label when I've been given the choice. I think when you sit with it a bit longer you definitely pull more flavors out of it. Cheers!

The High Rye was also a big surprise for me. Excellent blend. The Red is definitely dead last though haha

My favorite is JW Gold 18 year old, it's much better than the "Gold Reserve", or even the Blue! Yes, Gold 18 year old is back on the shelves in some stores. Cheers!

Peat is from bogs. They dig the peat out in rows and let it dry. Once it's dry, they burn the peat and the smoke passes over the malted barley before the mash is made. This carries the peaty taste over to the distillation. If you'd like a slightly peated whisky, one that is good to start your peated journey on it's the Highland park 12. The nose is so lovely, and it carries over to the palette. Fantastic whisky, and one that I would say is the whiskey to try before any peated whisky.

JW Black and JW Green are my go-to's. Black goes great with a good cigar.

Great episode. Today I learned that despite how I like a lot of the same bourbons as Kurt, our Scotch preferences are nothing alike! I like Black. Someday I'll try Double Black, but I struggle pulling the trigger when I'm at the store and it costs the same as Ardbeg Wee Beastie.

I haven't been drinking scotch lately at all, but JW Black was one of the first bottles I tried on my whiskey journey. It's a good nightly sipper for what it is. It's like Jack Daniels #7 or Maker Mark, but for Scotch. I would like to try the green label, but will definitely pick up the High Rye, as I've noticed it and wondered. Thanks for the review.

Definitely a Scotch guy here... my line up would be: Green/Blue... the order depending on the day, then Double Black, Black & closing with Red. I have not tried the High Rye or that specific Gold Label. I will give the High Rye a try based on the video... you made it sound interesting regardless of price. If I see an 18-yr Gold I may hit that one too.

Another great episode. I put red ahead of black as well. Green and double black are nice. I've not had the others but will have to pick up the High Rye since Rye is my go to when I am not feeling Scotch.

This was a great review......you didn't let me down. I truly appreciate this review. Going to find a Blue Label.

Thank you guys for the nice comparison. To me the Green Label is the only one worth the money. It is about 40 bucks in Germany and to me it's a very nice blend. Never had a better blend in that price range, not even up to 80 bucks. I think it is not only better value for money than the Blue Label I also prefer the Green Label over the blue compared side by side without considering the price. I recommend the Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21 as an absolute premium blend (and still less expensive than the Blue Label).

Hitchens on the black label: ‘the best blended Scotch in the history of the world… Breakfast of champions, accept no substitute’.

Following my own taste buds, I like (not love) the Black Label. I don't buy it often, though. The Gold Label Reserve is as bland as it gets, and I detest the Double Black. The Double Black just tastes burnt to me. Never tried the High Rye or Green Label. I'll have to give them some consideration, especially the High Rye. I'll skip the Red and Blue. Cheers!

Never noticed that the bottles get taller as they get “better”

On my Birthday you did the review. Thank thank you.....I love you guys🎉🎉🎉

I have tried the first 4 and like them all, but my favorite is either the Red or High Rye.

Peat is a much younger version of coal!

Picked up the High Rye today when I stumbled upon it for half price. Absolutely phenomenal! Never been a Scotch guy. Nothing against it in any way. There's just other options I tend to put that money towards. With that said, I'll definitely be buying a lot more of this stuff. It's not like your typical rye whisky. It almost tastes like a slightly smoother White Label Jim Beam to me for very first split second (which I'm sorry but I personally love Jim Beam), but then it just takes a sudden complete 180 turn and you get the green apple and all the spice towards the end. This is a very good whisky that's flavorful enough to stand out, but also balanced enough that I can't picture any one single whisky drinker actually hating it.

I had a lot of scraped knees and elbows as a kid so a hint of iodine would probably turn me right off. At least it's not mecurochrome.

Peat is a moss that grows in low land marshes. over many centuries, the peat partially decomposes and compresses and becomes a fuel source when cut into bricks and dried. This fuel source is used to dry and stop the malting process of live, sprouted grains. Malting of grain is necessary to increase the starch levels in some grains to provide higher fermentable sugar content to the mash. Tthe smoky flavor of scotch comes from the peat fires used to dry the malted grains that comprise the mash.

Seeing Trenton’s slow evolution into a Scotch lover is the highlight of the past year+ watching and participating in the live shows. I knew we’d get him one day Kurt.

The best review of JW Blue I ever read was one sentence: "Johnnie Walker Blue is the Scotch whisky for people with more money than taste." :)

I did a Walker tasting years ago (when they still had the age stated 18 gold), and their "claim to fame" as the taster put it was Walkers ability to paired with waters...when adding about a water cap to the green it opened up and completely changed to a different profile...and the gold (at the time) was also supposed to be kept in a freezer as the cold turned it into a almost chocolate malted bomb...just for what it's worth...I know the "purists" will hate me for this comment...

Peated scotch takes me back to when I was 11 touring Ireland with my father. Although it was during summer, rooms that we stayed in had a similar smell.

I think we also need to understand that Johnny Walker is not a distillery. It's a brand (marketing, that's why it's the biggest selling Scotch) that's owned by a giant multinational called Diageo, who have around 30 malt distilleries in their portfolio plus the largest grain distillery. Each of these produce single malts - some of them have a core release of products under their own name (think Clynelish, Lagavulin, Caol Ila) but a lot of them do not and are just volume producers for the Johnny Walker blends. Especially in Europe, but also in the US, we have what are called "independent bottlers". They are companies who buy casks from distilleries (often via a broker) and then release them under their own label, and that's how we get to taste some very interesting expressions of certain distilleries, often uncoloured, unfiltered and at cask strength, that otherwise would just disappear in blends.

Blue Label is to this day the most disappointing bottle I’ve ever purchased

Johnnie Walker black was my VERY first whiskey experience. It was awful and I was turned off to whiskey for years as a result. I was so glad to learn that other options would taste so much better!

Love me some Jonnie Walker! Haven't had them all but I do like the Black.

Green Label is a phenomenal blended malt. It’s like judging Jim Beam without having tried Knob Creek 12. You often get what you pay for.

Another great video I like johnnie walker I have double black ,gold reserve I have had a green label that I bought while on a cruise it was non age stated island green I have had blue also I would like to try the 15 year green and there 18 year old is now platinum label

Johnnie Walker also has a "Select Casks - Rye Cask Finish" that is 10yr age stated. I had some recently at a work event. I have a co-worker who is a whiskey connoisseur, but detests scotch, and he loved it. It might be worth grabbing a bottle if you see it. I spotted it recently at the Minneapolis airport duty-free for $76. I'm not sure if it's a duty-free exclusive though. Also, thanks for the great content! I love the vibe you guys have. I'm trying to dial-in my palette, and I really appreciate your fun, informative, and comparative approach to your videos!

This is ironically a very great video. The fact that he liked Red more than Blue makes so much sense. JW Red is highly underrated.

Red: Pass/ Black: All day every day/ Double Black: Yes/ Green Gold Plat 18: hard maybe/ Blue: it's fun to share on special occasions and won't destroy non-scotch drinkers, very smooth, not worth the price for the experience, you do not buy this if you can't afford to take up golf.

Great show. FYI, JW does not have Laphroaig in the blend. They use Lagavulin from Islay and Talisker from Skye, which are the main contributors to the peaty flavors.

Great video. I love scotch. I was late to the party when it came to drinking. Baptism by fire as friends introduced me to scotch, and Islay scotch at that! The first sip had a "band-aid, asphalt taste." (Laphroaig 18). Well, several years later, scotch has become my drink of choice. Have been venturing into bourbon more recently. Your channel has been my primary source of information. Trenton, you are probably thinking betadine in regards to the topical antiseptic. That has a brown/orange color. Iodine has a deep purple color. I prefer single malt offerings over blended. This was a great review of the JW lineup.

I never will understand people who say they can "pick up" smells from any type of booze...All I ever smell is booze and variants of booze. I drink entirely for effect, always have. It's like taking medicine to get to the good feeling for me.

All Johnnie Walker labels are blends of Scotch...Scotch snobs (think, single malts) really don't touch it. Red Label - I drink it with a splash of club soda (VP Dick Cheney mixes it with ginger ale...ask me how I know). Black Label - I drink it with a splash of water or as a rusty nail cocktail (only has a hint of smoke). Double Black - a little smoother, again with a splash. As for Green, Gold, and Blue - with a few drops of water. Green is my favorite of the Walking Man family. As for my Scotch preference, I do like the Islay (pronounced, i-lah) Scotches and their heavy peat smokiness. My son says it's like drinking a old campfire.

Not sure if this was commented but they do make a Black Label Triple Cask that is finished in rum barrels. Though it is a duty free travel exclusive. They also make another travel exclusive Green Island edition.

This was really useful info. I have to fight my natural tendency to be a snob about blends in general, especially if there is anything like neutral grain spirits in them or anything like that. So I have never been interested enough to try any of the JW lineup. After seeing this, I see at least one I might actually try out. Thanks for the review...

Always have JW Green on my bar. Great blend.

Kurt is like a super mellow DNR warden. " well, you guys need to have your license on you. I understand. Everyone has their take on the rules, but I am going to have to ticket you for non-compliance. I'm sorry, I just can't let this go. Just be careful and enjoy your hunt. Try and be safe guys. I'm sorry." Trenton: "Hey man, come on over and check out the Cherry table I just finished. I'll make you a really great cocktail. I just got some great Red label Scotch that pairs really well with Coke. You want a double? Shst do you ghink of this table, man?"

I used to be a scotch drinker and had all but the rye. My favorite was Green but then I started finding it to have a medicinal flavor. The Red was okay for the price but not so good. I liked the Black and the Double Black okay. The others not worth the price and were rather dull. When the Double Black first came out it was only available in duty free with international flights, at least only where I could find it. Also, Green label was discontinued for awhile back 10-15 years ago. Supposedly, were unable to source some of the blends.

I’ve had all but the High Rye. The 18yr Gold (Pre-Reserve) was my favorite. Best when kept in the freezer chilled. My Lineup would be: Gold, Black, Double Black, Blue, Red, Green (Rye Excluded). Johnnie Walker used to do tastings in Downtown Chicago that were fun to go to.

The one whisky missing is coincidently my favorite Johnnie Walker expression (and one of my favorite scotch whiskeys) - John Walker & Sons XR 21! I absolutely love it, but I can only get it from international duty-free shops. I've been holding onto my last few drops for a few years now until I can replace the bottle!

I think Trenton would benefit from three words that helped me learn to appreciate Scotch. "On the rocks." It makes a real difference with Johnnie Walker Red. For me, a good difference.

Love this episode! Scotch is fun with yall. JW Black is my peated mixer. What about an episode ranking the blended scotches? Famous Grouse, Monkey Shoulder, JW, ect.

Peat is essentially a fossil fuel formed when vegetable matter decays under certain conditions. Wet, but too cold and or acidic for microorganisms to really consume it. It's used as a heat source to stop the malting process in peated scotches.

I agree with the late, great Christopher Hitchens: Johnny Black is “The Elixir of the Gods”

Here in the UK you can buy some single malts, on special offer in supermarkets, for £20 a bottle. That's less than Johnny Walker. Btw, the roughest scotch imo is Bells.

Kurt, if you get a chance grab a bottle of the celebratory blend. It’s a higher proof blend, I believe over 100 which lends to a more complex sip. Excellent imho

My neighbor opened a JW Gold and we both agreed it tasted like an ashtray.

I have 18year old Johnny. I've been getting the Gold since 1998.

Today 18 yr is Platinum, and it’s the best of the whole lineup!

Peat is when they filter the whisky through sweaty socks

So in the past you have said that the leftovers go to the Infinity bottle. Do you have a separate Scotch infinity bottle or does it all go into the same bottle?

Peat: a brown deposit resembling soil, formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter in the wet acidic conditions of bogs and fens, and often cut out and dried for use as fuel and in gardening. "cuttings are rooted in a homemade mixture of equal parts peat and sand"

"Bland" with gold!?!?!?!?! You broke my heart!

I’ve had red, black, 18yr gold, and blue. All are pretty awful, IMO. I’d choose anything else.

Interesting fact: Jack Daniel's is the number 1 selling whiskey in the world outselling both Jim Beam and JW.

Double Black is a good budget alternative to Islay. I don’t like the Green because I don’t like the malt funk of the Coal Ila.

I’m a big fan of the 18 year gold reserve. Sad to hear it’s all gone!!

Props to Trenton for doing this. 🙌

Great show! I’m a Bourbon guy so take these comments with a bit of salt, but I struggle with Scotch. I bought a JW Gold as my first experience with Scotch. To my nose/palette it was overwhelmingly like burned dirt/grass and “chemical” tasting. Seeing as these notes don’t relate to edible items I just couldn’t stand it. Definitely wasn’t appealing to me at all.

I think it was a cheeky comment when Kurt told Trenton that his nose/palate weren't as trained as his. However, it is 100% truth. Bourbon has a very narrow flavor profile, but it is very robust. Almost too obvious... especially in higher proof stuff. Scotch has a much broader flavor profile. It can kick you in the mouth sometimes, but often it's more refined with delicate flavors. That said, Johnny Walker is not meant to be very unique or exciting. It's a very average whiskey, for a very average palate. Nothing wrong with that, as their sales clearly show. If you guys have the opportunity, I'd love for Trenton (and Kurt, if you haven't) to try Glenmorangie Signet. That is a very interesting pour and different from most other scotches. It's heavy on the coffee and chocolate combo. Definitely one that tends to provoke a conversation. I hope it becomes an episode soon. Cheers!

I've not had the High Rye or the Double Black, but it's tough to imagine drinking the red and the blue in the same sitting. The red tastes like licking a battery. Black is mediocre at best. Green is very good. I tried Gold when it was 18 and it blows the new one away, and is very close to, but not as good as Green. Blue is a different animal. I think people love to say it's terrible, but it's truly wonderful and worth, if you can afford it (I can not), the $200 price point.

Peat is a deep decomposed plant material, found in bogs/wetlands in Scotland of course, and also in Canada.

This was a pretty cool episode. I've recently gotten into whisky. I'd definitely love to see you guys trying some more scotches and Irish whiskey coming from the primarily bourbon perspective. Thanks!

When one is doing a review saying “I don’t like scotch” is not a winning statement. Blue Label is too expensive but it is a tremendously well made scotch, and importantly a different style.

'Am i sick" ..."cause I'm not getting anything and I'm not digging it either" 😂 17:58

You can get the Gold Label 18 year at certain Costco's still that sell the Johnnie Walker Sampler pack

I love Blue Label but it is pricey! The prices out at fine hotels for a shot of Blue can vary wildly from $50.00 to $80.00 a shot when a bottle of JW Blue is $200.00 where I live. That is an EXURBATANT MARKUP!!! Even if you are celebrating a milestone Birthday or Anniversary! Buy yourself a bottle to drink at home to celebrate!

my experience so far with peated scotches: a. more smoke and less green peat - like that in the Johnnie Black b. no smoke and more vegetal peat - like that in the Johnnie Green and Blue, in Caol Ila (earthy) and Talisker (briny) i have yet to try c. heavily medicinal iodine peat - what they say about Laphroaig

I love when you folks review scotch. Fun episode like always.

Johnny walker blue is a popular scotch in south texas for special occasions.

Great video guys as always, Trenton picking Red so high, still shaking my head over that one, but what do you expect from the young bucks. Lol Just wondering if you guys have reviewed W B Saffell yet, It's a wild turkey product. Thanks

I've always been a fan of Johnny Walker. Black is my favorite, but Green and Gold is very good. Red is a great mixer. Blue is decent, but I honestly feel that it's way overpriced. Double black is ok. Haven't had the High Rye yet... Yet... :) Although, I will say that Black needs a little smidge of water in it...

To me, Blue tastes like a good Speyside Scotch, and Green like an average island Scotch. The problem with Blue is that one can get an equally good Speyside single malt for close to the price of Green. The island single malts blended into Green cost about the same as it, some a little more, some a little less, though Green is aged a few years longer than most of them: 15 years versus 10 or 12. Thus, I think Green is the only Johnny Walker blend that presents an appealing value proposition, making it the only Johnny Walker I'd consider buying a bottle of. It's been ages since I drank Red, all I remember is that I hated it neat. To me Black tastes like diluted Caol'Ila, I can kind of enjoy it by imaging it's Caol'Ila (one of my favourite single malts), but I only drink it at bars/restaurants with nothing better in stock. I've never had Double Black, Gold, or Platinum (the 18 y.o. one), and thus will say nothing of them.

Peat is a spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter, primarily plant material, in wetlands such as swamps, muskegs, bogs, fens, and moors.

When peat moss is burned in the heating process, it leaves behind that signature smokey peat flavor. Not a real fan of peated whiskeys such as Laphroaig. The taste is often too overpowering for me. That said, of the lower end, I like the Black and don't really think it has that much peat flavor at all. Never had the Blue or Green -- will try the Green next. Thanks for this video!

Its "double black and double bad!" thank you Trent! I dunno why people like that whisky or why they pay MORE for it!

As far as blended scotch goes Compass Box whiskies are far superior to Johnnie Walker.