Johnnie Walker has launched the first release from the limited edition experimental Blenders’ Batch series, Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Red Rye Finish.
Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Led by master blender Dr Jim Beveridge, the blending team set about studying flavour experiments, focussing on developing and understanding alternative flavours including wine, coffee and chocolate.
Inspired by Dr Beveridge’s time blending bourbons and ryes in Kentucky in the 1990s, the whisky expression is the result of experiments into the influence of bourbon and rye whiskey flavours on Scotch. The blend was created from a small number of malt and grain whiskies drawn from first fill ex-bourbon casks, including whisky from the now closed Port Dundas distillery and Cardhu distillery. The blend is finished in ex-rye casks for up to six months, which gives the whisky a balance of intense sweetness, layered fresh fruit and spice.
Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Red Rye Finish Tasting Notes
- Country of Origin: Scotland
- ABV: 40%
- Age: NAS
- Colour: bright amber
- Nose: rye character with cereal notes, spice and bourbon sweetness
- Palate: smooth with initial spice notes upfront leading to a creaminess and fruit character mid palate with soft oak
- Finish: a medium finish that balances fruit, spice and sweetness
With its smooth and creamy mouthfeel and balance of fruit and spice, this is a whisky that makes for easy sipping as well as being suited to a diverse range of cocktails.
This article was originally published on October 6, 2016 on our sister website Gourmantic.
