Dewar's White Label Blended Scotch Review & Tasting Notes

Life is sometimes like a big circle. There’s no real beginning, middle, or end; it is just continuous. Today I’m going way, way back in time.

 

My whisky journey began as a random choice of spirits. I wasn’t a drinker of alcoholic spirits. My wife suggested that I find something – anything – that I could sip on just to be social. There were two things I knew I didn’t care for:  tequila and gin. I was not too fond of the smell of either, let alone the taste.

 

In a desire to appear sophisticated, I opted for Scotch. While I wanted to appear as such, my wallet had different ideas. As a friend described things, you have champagne tastes on a beer budget. I don’t quite remember how the actual selection happened, but I think it was Mrs. Whiskeyfellow who handed me a 200ml bottle of Dewar’s White Label (since publishing this, Mrs. Whiskeyfellow says it was not her that got me to try Dewar's).

 

I cycled between Dewar’s and Chivas Regal for about a year before I opted to delve deeper, and once I did that, I never tried Dewar’s White Label again; until today.

 

Dewar’s began in 1846 when John Dewar and his two sons, who were wine merchants, purchased whiskies and blended them for their store brand. In 1896, the Aberfeldy Distillery was built so the Dewars could make their own whisky. Dewar’s has changed hands a few times and is currently owned by Bacardi.

 

Dewar’s White Label is still a blended Scotch, but it blends differently from most brands. Instead of blending grains and malts and then aging the blended whisky, Dewar’s selects over 40 different mature single malts from around Scotland (with a large portion from Aberfeldy) and marries them to form its concoction.

 

White Label carries no age statement; it is chill-filtered and offers no mention of e150a coloring. You can find this pretty much everywhere from the corner convenience to a full-blown liquor store and should expect to pay about $24.99 for a 750ml package.

 

This will be an exciting review because I honestly can’t remember how it tasted. I’ll #DrinkCurious and find out what made me stick with it for such a long time.

 

Appearance: In my Glencairn glass, Dewar’s White Label presented as the color of straw. It formed a thicker rim and watery legs that raced down the wall of the glass.

 

Nose: Orchard fruits such as peach, apple, and citrus greeted my nostrils. Beneath those were honey, vanilla, and a hint of ethanol. When I pulled the air into my mouth, there was a blast of tangerine.

 

Palate:  This Scotch had a watery mouthfeel. Vanilla and honey were on the front, caramel was on the middle (although challenging to find), and the back had flavors of lemon curd combined with char.

 

Finish:  The lemon and char remained through the finish and included vanilla, black pepper, and slightly bitter quality. It was medium in length.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  I have to be honest. I was a bit concerned I would hate this. Dewar’s White Label isn’t the best whisky, it won’t blow your doors off, but it isn’t unpleasant. It is basic and unassuming. It was probably a good idea to use this as my toe-dip into Scotch all those years ago because there is enough to make things interesting without some of the overpowering qualities that can turn off novices. It could almost be mistaken for a lower-end Irish whiskey on a different day, which is likely why I initially found this appealing. The price is undoubtedly easy. For those curious about Scotch, this will be a Bottle, and for the more experienced whisky drinker, a Bar. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.

 

 

Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Review & Tasting Notes

 

Usually, I go into a grandiose introduction, and I give a history of the brand and background on the type of whisky. I’ll include some information, but today I’m exploring the best-selling Scotch whisky in the world: Johnnie Walker Red Label.

 

I want to skip the typical introduction because Red Label is the standard-bearer for bad Scotch if you listen to folks in social media groups. But, at the same time, it is the best-selling Scotch in the world. While everyone’s palate is different, this is one of those things that you can’t have both ways. Either it is a terrible whisky, or it is drinkable. I would expect some back-peddling from the naysayers who will then suggest, Well, it is a mixer.

 

I’ll take that comment at face value because even Johnnie Walker’s website says, Made for Mixing. However, if you’ve followed me for some time, you’ll remember that I don’t do the mixer game. Whisky has to stand on its own – good, bad, or ugly to rate on the Bottle, Bar, or Bust scale. And, for the record, there are perfectly drinkable made-for-mixing whiskies that require no accompaniments.

 

Let’s talk about Red Label. It is the entry-level Scotch under the Johnnie Walker brand and has been in production since 1909. It is a blend of 35 malt and grain whiskies sourced from various distilleries around Scotland. It carries no age statement, and you can expect to pay about $22.99 for a 750ml package. You can find this at pretty much every liquor, grocery, and convenience store – at least in the United States.

 

I’ve never had Red Label before. I snagged a 50ml for about $2.99 at some random liquor store for the express purpose of a review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and learn the truth about it.

 

Appearance: Served neat in my Glencairn glass, Red Label was presented as golden, forming a medium-thin rim. Fat, slow tears fell back into the pool.

 

Nose: I smelled lemon zest, lime, and floral notes. The aroma was straightforward. When I drew the air into my mouth, there was no flavor I could identify, but it was decidedly dry. I’ll say that’s something I’ve never experienced with a whisky.

 

Palate:  I didn’t expect the creamy texture; I figured it would be thin. There’s a lesson for you – expect nothing and keep an open mind. Red Label had one of the most unusual palates I’ve experienced. The front was spicy and bold with freshly-cracked black pepper and cinnamon. Mid-palate offered flavors of pear, vanilla, and barley. The back featured raisin, citrus, and mild oak.

 

Finish:  You might expect the finish to remain fruity. Instead, the spice from the front of the palate carried into the finish. Moreover, it was slightly smoky. There was some citrus, but that was overwhelmed amongst the other flavors. The whole thing was long and lingering.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  Johnnie Walker Red Label is drinkable neat. Frankly, there’s nothing wrong with it. It is a simple whisky that could work well in a cocktail with its spicy front and finish, and I’m not talking “and Coke.” Would I buy a 750ml for my whiskey library? No. For me, it lacks the depth and character I crave. Would I refuse a pour from a friend? Also, no. Red Label earns a Bar rating; it is something that would work well for the Scotch curious but would likely bore the connoisseur. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.