JW Double Black?

buffdaddy · Dec 22, 2012

Was at Costco and saw this for around $38.00. I'm quite familiar with the regular black, but just wondering if anyone has tried this. Guess this a new addition to the line:

Double Black Label: A new addition, the whisky was created taking Black Label as a blueprint and adding heavily peated malts and some aged in deeply charred oak casks.

chado006 · Dec 22, 2012

Interesting, looks like they're wanting to get something closer to Laphroaig. Could actually be using Laphroaig in the blend?

arghblech · Dec 27, 2012

I have a bottle but haven't had more than one dram of it yet. It's much smokier than black but I don't recall it being super peaty. It's good and has that classic JW flavor profile... a bit sweet, some peat, soft on the palate, lots of barley flavor. I usually keep JW Black around the house as my well scotch. I don't think I'll replace it with the double black anytime soon but I don't regret the purchase.

CptBlueBear · Dec 30, 2012

It's been available here in Oz for 18 months to 2 years. A somewhat smokier version of JW Black, but not enough to offend anyone. General reaction is "that's it?". Nice enough, but doesn't live up to the "double" part of its name. I can't help thinking it was conceived by the marketing dept to appeal to the Beam Black, Gentleman Jack niche here. If you're looking for a cheap(ish) Islay peat-and-smoke monster, this isn't it. Arghblech's description is pretty much spot on.

SamF · Dec 30, 2012

chado006 said:
Interesting, looks like they're wanting to get something closer to Laphroaig. Could actually be using Laphroaig in the blend?

JW is owned by Diageo if I remember rightly, and Laphroaig is owned by Beam, so I think that it's more likely to have some Lagavulin added in as that's Diageo's premier peeated, smokey single malt.

Shantytownbrown · Dec 30, 2012

SamF said:
JW is owned by Diageo if I remember rightly, and Laphroaig is owned by Beam, so I think that it's more likely to have some Lagavulin added in as that's Diageo's premier peeated, smokey single malt.

Cao Illa is also Diageo's and contributes most of the smokiness to the original Black...doubt it has two Islay's in it..

I happen to enjoy this stuff, I am a fan of the regular, and not a huge smoke fan, but this does fine, well balanced...

I heard it was limited edition tho, anyone know if this is true?

Captain Pete · Dec 30, 2012

I've got to try that yet. Black is my go to blend, so I'm really curious about this one.

ReAndyMator · Dec 31, 2012

Cao Illa is also Diageo's and contributes most of the smokiness to the original Black...doubt it has two Islay's in it..

There's about forty different malts in Black label (typical figure for most of the decent blends, actually). I'd be surprised if it doesn't have two Islays in it. However, Caol Ila is Diageo's volume Islay (4M LOA/yr), so the bulk of the islay is probably from there.

arghblech · Dec 31, 2012

I always keep Black around and this won't be replacing it. Double Black actually reminds me more of Black Grouse for some reason.

+1 to ReAndyMator's post about Caol Ila.

_MementoMori_ · Jan 4, 2013

I got a bottle about a year ago and liked it quite a bit. Like JW Black but with a little peat/smoke. I'd buy it again.

buffdaddy · Jan 5, 2013

_MementoMori_ said:
I got a bottle about a year ago and liked it quite a bit. Like JW Black but with a little peat/smoke. I'd buy it again.

I didn't know JW Double Black was around for that long? I thought this was a new blend they introduced for the holiday buying season. I'm a fan of the regular Black so I'll probably pick up a bottle sometime in future.

Here's a quick review: http://cocktailenthusiast.com/2011/10/03/johnnie-walker-double-black-scotch-whisky-review/

_MementoMori_ · Jan 7, 2013

buffdaddy said:
I didn't know JW Double Black was around for that long? I thought this was a new blend they introduced for the holiday buying season. I'm a fan of the regular Black so I'll probably pick up a bottle sometime in future.

Here's a quick review: http://cocktailenthusiast.com/2011/10/03/johnnie-walker-double-black-scotch-whisky-review/

Yeah, I've been surprised lately to still see it on shelves. I thought it was going away. It might not have been a whole year ago, but it's definitely approaching that.

dpm802 · Jan 7, 2013

Johnny Walker Black has been my default drink for years. I went through two bottles of the Double Black when I first found it last year, but decided I like the original Black better.

The Double has a good taste, but it doesn't have the same smooth kick that the original does. Also, I always had a slight hangover from the Double, which is something I never had with the original.

Go ahead and get a bottle so you can try it, but I don't think this is "New and Improved" JWB. Just the opposite. Its a step down, IMHO.

Shantytownbrown · Jan 9, 2013

buffdaddy said:
I didn't know JW Double Black was around for that long? I thought this was a new blend they introduced for the holiday buying season. I'm a fan of the regular Black so I'll probably pick up a bottle sometime in future.

Here's a quick review: http://cocktailenthusiast.com/2011/10/03/johnnie-walker-double-black-scotch-whisky-review/

Just got an email from diageo ( got on the jw marketing list a long time ago) saying " double black is back"

as far as I could tell it was never gone? But it was touted prior as limited edition....maybe our shops just never sold out? I doubt I will buy any more past this third bottle I just got before Xmas.

buffdaddy · Jan 9, 2013

dpm802 said:
Johnny Walker Black has been my default drink for years. I went through two bottles of the Double Black when I first found it last year, but decided I like the original Black better.

The Double has a good taste, but it doesn't have the same smooth kick that the original does. Also, I always had a slight hangover from the Double, which is something I never had with the original.

Go ahead and get a bottle so you can try it, but I don't think this is "New and Improved" JWB. Just the opposite. Its a step down, IMHO.

So basically, from the reviews I'v read and the ralfy video. It seems that JW just added a bit more smoke to the original blend? Am I off base or is that the gist of it?

dpm802 · Jan 9, 2013

buffdaddy said:
So basically, from the reviews I'v read and the ralfy video. It seems that JW just added a bit more smoke to the original blend? Am I off base or is that the gist of it?

I'm not exactly sure what changes JW made between Original Black and Double Black ... all I'm saying is that after trying the Double, I went back to drinking Original exclusively.

Actually, my favorite blend is the Green, of those that I've tried so far. But trying to find a bar that serves Green is nigh impossible. If I could order up Green on the Rocks when I'm out on the town, I'd do it. So when I go out, given a choice between Red and Black, I'll spend the extra $1 a drink for the Black.

e-man67 · Jan 10, 2013

I think the Double Black is smokier. I prefer the original black myself.

Hunter · Jan 10, 2013

I must own this... Some much Scotch, so little time...

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JW Double Black?

buffdaddy

chado006

arghblech

CptBlueBear

SamF

Shantytownbrown

Captain Pete

ReAndyMator

arghblech

_MementoMori_

buffdaddy

_MementoMori_

dpm802

Shantytownbrown

buffdaddy

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Hunter

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