Is Double Black better than Black Label?

It’s a pretty big deal for an iconic brand like Johnnie Walker to put out a new product, and it’s an even bigger deal when it’s a new expression of one of their best known brands. Johnnie Walker Double Black made its debut in the duty free shops in airports of Europe and Asia where it was a big hit, so Johnnie Walker elevated it to a formal release for the US market.

Johnnie Walker Double Black (40%, 80 Proof $40) – it’s hard to look at Johnnie Walker Double Black without comparing it directly to the spirit it’s based on: Johnnie Walker Black Label. The first most noticeable difference between the two is that Johnnie Walker Double Black does not have any form of age statement on the bottle (Johnnie Walker Black Label contains spirits which are at least 12 years old). This follows along with a recent trend of spirit manufactures stepping away from age statements with new products, like Laphroaig’s Quarter Cask and Ardbeg Alligator. The bottles are also distinctly different: Johnnie Walker Black Label comes in a clear bottle, while Double Black comes in slightly taller, smoked glass bottle.

In the glass, both Johnnie Walker Black Label and Double Black look almost identical, with Black Label perhaps just slightly more red.  Nosing Johnnie Walker Double Black next to Johnnie Walker Black, there are very clear and distinct differences.  The Johnnie Walker Black Label has a much sweeter nose than the Double Black. With Black Label you can clearly pick out the Cardhu, but with Double Black, the nose is more defined by its smokey and peaty quality which comes from Caol Ila. On both, the nose presents very well and balanced. Double Black doesn’t blow you away with its smokiness, and there’s still a nice bed of sweet cherry underneath with a slight suggestion of a floral note.

The entry for Double Black is really nice and smooth. The smoke from the nose is there but it’s perfectly balanced by nice round, sweet flavors including the cherry from the nose. This balance carries out perfectly through the midpalate, where both the smoke and sweet intensify.  At the end of the midpalate, Double Black picks up a little spice and the slightest bit of bite that carries through a nice medium-long finish which preserves the sweet, smoke, and spice notes.

Johnnie Walker Double Black manages to maintain the same kind of wonderful balance that we’ve come to know and love with Johnnie Walker Black Label, but it does so with a slightly different set of flavors. Whereas Black Label expresses the interplay between sweet and oak, Double Black expresses the interplay with smoke, sweet, and spice.  This is done at the same high level and with the same wonderful finesse that has made Black Label so successful. Johnnie Walker Double Black also makes the stronger and smokier notes typical of Islay scotches much more approachable to the blended scotch drinker.  Johnnie Walker has stated that Johnnie Walker Double Black is a limited release and when ‘stock runs out’, it’ll no longer be offered, but we expect Double Black to ultimately take its rightful place as a full fledged part of the Johnnie Walker line.

Be sure to read our interview with Jim Beveridge, Master Blender for Johnnie Walker.

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Geoff Kleinman

https://www.drinkspirits.com

+Geoff Kleinman, is the founder, and managing editor of DrinkSpirits.com. He is a nationally recognized spirits columnist and staff reviewer for Whisky Advocate Magazine. Geoff's work has appeared in dozens of major magazines including Playboy Magazine, Black Book, and Mixology Magazine. He is a current sitting judge for the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, the founder of the Society of Modern Journalists, holds BAR certification from the Beverage Alcohol Resource Group, is a Certified Cognac Educator, and a Kentucky Colonel

Discover the differences between Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black in this in-depth comparison and decide which is better for You!

Table of Contents

• Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Johnnie Walker Double Black
• What’s the differences between Johnnie Walker Black Label and Double Black?
• Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black: Price comparison
• Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black: which is better?

Johnnie Walker Black Label

• Nose: Rich in vanilla, citrus zest and nectarine.
• Palate: Smoky, roasted malt, caramel, vanilla and raisins.
• Finish: Long, fruity, peppery, peat.

On the nose, there is vanilla scent at first, followed by citrus zest, nectarine and a whiff of alcohol.

On the palate, body feels thin lacking in texture. Johnnie Walker Black Label has mildly sweet taste, with a flavor rich in peat. There are also hints of caramel and vanilla coming behind.

The finish is peaty, with hints of black pepper, salt and a bit of warmth but nothing terrible or off-putting.

Overall, the Black Label is a reliable whisky, striking a good balance of smoke and sweetness, with peat smoke and charred oak barrel smoke.

Quite smooth but with a warm finish that does not overwhelm. Nevertheless, on a lot of ice as it is commonly served it totally hits the spot.

The Black Label serves as an introductory bottle to peated Scotch, those with a hint coming from the peats used to dry the malted barley.

Johnnie Walker Black Label is the baseline for most people who take whisky tasting seriously.

Also read: Johnnie Walker Red Label vs Black Label: What’s the Difference?

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Black Label:

• Bottled at 80 proof.

• The Black Label is a blend of 40 whiskies made from grain and malts aged for at least 12 years from all over Scotland.

• The blend includes peaty whiskies from Islay, sweet and salty whiskies from Speyside along some malts coming from the Scottish Highlands.

• Johnnie Walker is the best-selling whisky brand in the world doubling the sales of the closest competitor. The brand was started by a Scottish grocer, John Walker, in the early 19th century.

• Now it belongs to Diageo, the British drinks giant who also owns Don Julio Tequila, Casamigos, among several other brands.

Johnnie Walker Double Black

• Nose: Smoke, vanilla, tar, barbecue sauce, citrus and malt.
• Palate: Charred oak, peat, caramel, vanilla and salted butter.
• Finish: Charred, oak, peat, vanilla and citrus.

Nose delivers smoke up-front, as you let it breathe vanilla, orange and malty aromas pop-up. There is also something that smells like tat and BBQ sauce.

On the palate, the Double Black has a good creamy body. This whisky delivers a blast of charred oak and peat up-front.

Once you get through the first layer of charred oak and peat there is a reward of caramel sweetness, along vanilla and salted butter.

The finish is long and somewhat warm, but not harsh. With more peat and charred oak to it and a tad of vanilla and orange zest.

This is a whisky that demands a certain degree of expertise to fully appreciate as the heavy smoky notes might overwhelm an inexperienced drinker.

In fact, this is the smokiest Johnnie Walker and the more demanding.

Add a few drops of water to the whisky and let rich floral notes emerge whilst tuning down the peat; this will make the Double Black easier to drink.

I find it to be quite good as I’m very fond of smoky spirits, but I’m aware that the Double Black can be intimidating for some.

You can also go rocks but be aware that ice just chills the dram but does not tune down the smoke.

It makes a good whisky to drink in highball or Scotch & Soda as the smoke and char make this cocktail more tasty.

See how this whisky compares tho the Gold Label!

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Double Black:

• Bottled at 80 proof.

• Aged in deeply charred oak casks to intensify the smoky character of the Black Label.

What’s the differences between Johnnie Walker Black Label and Double Black?

The Double Black is crafted using the same blend of the Black Label but aged in highly charred barrels.

The result is a whisky with mnay similar notes altough much richer in charred oak; which might be overwhelming for some consumers not acquainted with this particular note.

Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black: which is better?

The Black Label is a safer bet than the Double Black

• Johnnie Walker Black Label is better than the Double Black for the newbie curious about peaty whiskies. Double Black is better suited for the experienced Scotch whisky aficionado that can handle better the heavy smoky notes Double Black offers.

• If you are fond of smoky spirits the Double Black makes a great option. The heavily charred casks add a nice note an already tasty dram.

• Start by sipping Black Label and once you become acquainted to this type of whisky move to the Double Black and shoot me an email with a “thank you” note.

• The price edge in favor of Black Label also makes it a better starting point.

Also read: Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Blue Label What Whisky is Better?

J Highland

I am a bar and liquor shop owner in Oaxaca, Mexico where I have tasted hundreds of different spirits; perhaps more than I should!

Which is more expensive Black Label or Double Black?

What's the difference between Johnny Walker Black and Double Black?

Is Double Black a good whisky?

Is Johnnie Walker Double Black strong?