Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Whiskey 750ml

Johnnie Walker Gold Label traces back to 1920, when Alexander Walker first conceived a special blend to mark the company's centenary. Shortages of well-aged malt whisky following the First World War delayed the idea for decades, and it wasn't until the early 1950s, after Alexander's death, that the company's master blender finally completed the blend from his notes. Wartime shortages meant early bottlings were reserved exclusively for the firm's own blenders and directors before the whisky eventually reached the wider market, and it was relaunched in its current form in 2012.

Gold Label Reserve is built around single malt whisky from Clynelish in the Highlands, a distillery whose water source flows near hills where gold was once discovered. This honeyed, coastal malt forms the core of the blend, joined by crisp Speyside character from distilleries such as Cardhu, gentle spice reminiscent of Blair Athol, and a touch of smoke from Scotland's outer islands. The whisky carries no age statement and is bottled at 40 percent alcohol by volume.

The nose offers honey, vanilla cream, and tropical fruit with soft floral notes. The palate is smooth and rich, layering creamy toffee and orchard fruit with warm spice, before a long, honeyed finish with a gentle trace of smoke.