Introduction
Welcome back to another episode of the Film & Whiskey podcast. Today, we’re diving into a review of Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch Wine Cask Blend. Released in 2017, this whiskey has now been discontinued, but we managed to snag a bottle from Ohio's "last call" shelf. At 80 proof, this blend offers a unique tasting experience, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different cask finishes. Let’s break it down!
The following review is taken from our episode "Sabrina / Johnnie Walker Blender's Batch Wine Cask Blend." Click the link to listen to this 10-minute review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: On the nose, this is a really interesting whiskey. You don’t get as much of the barley as you normally would with a Scotch. For me, this might be one of the most floral noses I’ve ever encountered. It reminds me almost of white wine and peaches, maybe a bit light and fruity. Almost like peaches and cream. 7/10
Bob: I agree. It has those really bright notes we often get with Irish whiskey and blended Scotch, minus the maltiness and grain forwardness typical of cheaper whiskeys. It’s bright and fruity, and to me, it smells like the inside of those little boxes of raisins we used to get as kids. I’m getting a strong dried fruit scent, and I like it a lot. 7.5/10
Taste
Bob: The palate is really thin and watery, with a pretty strong smokiness. It’s not peaty, but more like cigarette ash. I don’t get a ton of fruit, just a bit of creaminess and honey, but certainly no wine notes. Honestly, I’m pretty disappointed with this palate. 5/10
Brad: I think on the finish, I start to get a bit of that cigarette ash you mentioned. Mid-palate, I get a little raspberry and the peaches flavor sticks around from the nose, but it’s definitely very light. This kind of reminds me of a delicate white wine. I think they used white wine casks for this because it’s so light and airy. 7.5/10
Finish
Bob: The finish is better than the palate, mainly because it’s really short. Those lighter, brighter white wine notes stick around, and there’s a sense of effervescence. It’s a bit closer to a dry white wine than a sweet one. Not much left on the palate, but it’s not a bad finish. 6/10
Brad: I’ll give it a six and a half. The cigarette ash comes through at the end, which I’m not a fan of, and it loses a lot of its flavor. 6.5/10
Balance
Brad: I’ll give this a six out of ten. It’s not an incredibly well-balanced whiskey. It definitely has some sharp edges that you’d expect blending to smooth out, but it didn’t happen here. 6/10
Bob: I’ll do the same, six out of ten. The drastic drop-off from the nose to the palate was really noticeable for me. 6/10
Value
Bob: This is where things get tricky. I picked this up for around $25, but online it’s listed at prices ranging from $25 to $70. Even at $40, this is not a good value. I appreciate the craft, but let’s be honest, it’s not like they’re doing this with small batches. This is just huge vats of whiskey blended from many wine casks. 2/10
Brad: I think I’ll give it a four out of ten. The whiskey in the bottle is decent, maybe just barely above average. It’s definitely below average on value. 4/10
Final Scores
Bob: I’m at a 26.5 out of 50. I don’t recommend buying this, and I can see why it was discontinued. 26.5/50
Brad: I’m a little higher, at 31 out of 50. Unless you’re a big Johnnie Walker fan and you can get it for $25, I wouldn’t recommend it. 31/50
Overall: Our combined score is 28.75 out of 50. We don’t recommend trying or buying this whiskey, and we understand why it’s no longer being produced. If you’re a die-hard Johnnie Walker fan, you’ve probably already tried it. For everyone else, there are better options out there.
