If you drink Johnnie Walker and want to explore single malt Scotch, knowing where to start can be difficult. There are hundreds of bottles to choose from, but your favorite Johnnie Walker label can give you a useful starting point.
The single malts below aren’t intended to taste exactly like Johnnie Walker. Instead, each one takes some of the flavors and characteristics you might already enjoy and pushes them further. So whether you usually reach for Black, Gold, Green, 18 Year Old, or Blue Label, here’s a single malt to try next.
Benromach 12 Year Old, 46%, $54 / £43 / ₹5,482
A brand-new release in the single malt world and one that I’m probably going to give my Whisky of the Year award to. A fully sherry-matured, lightly peated Speyside single malt that does everything you could ever want a bottle of Scottish whisky to do. It’s a perfect alternative to Johnnie Walker Black Label.
This is a fabulous first single malt for the blended whisky drinker, as it has many of the components that are typically brought together to create a great blend. Sherry, smoke, well-made single malt, 46% ABV, natural color, and no chill filtration mean you’re able to really get into the texture and nuances of this bottle. A real charmer that’s fresh out of the casks!
A single malt from Campbeltown, a place full of history when it comes to its whisky distilleries. Glen Scotia 12 Year Old is an incredible whisky matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks, allowing the spirit and cask to speak equally. This is a great option if you prefer Johnnie Walker Gold Label.
Full of fresh tropical fruit, a little saltiness, unpeated barley character, and some of that distinctive Campbeltown funkiness, this is an amazing first single malt for blended whisky drinkers. It’s a very clean, fresh style that can lead you down the rabbit hole of Campbeltown whisky.
Campbeltown whiskies rarely make appearances in the bigger, better-known blends, so this can offer you a flavor profile you might not have tried before.
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, 46.3%, $68 / £40 / ₹4,866
If you like the idea of the Benromach 12 Year Old but don’t want the peat or smoke, Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old is a great option. This is an Islay single malt with no smoke in its core age-stated releases. Relying on ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, Bunnahabhain has become famous for its sherry-soaked profile over the years.
As it’s an Islay single malt, you still get a coastal, slightly salty profile, but the sherry is the focus, bringing plenty of raisin, chocolate, and Christmas cake flavors.
If you’re branching out from blends and want to try a few more single malts, this is an incredible bottle to get involved with. Rich, coastal, historic, available, and affordable, it’s quite the bottle for the first-time single malt drinker. If Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old is your bottle, this could be a great alternative.
Linkwood 12 Year Old Flora & Fauna, 43%, $70 / £56 / ₹6,828
Now, this is a single malt with a key role in Johnnie Walker. Linkwood is owned by Diageo, which also owns Johnnie Walker, and the distillery’s whisky contributes to the character of its blends.
A Speyside distillery famous for its fruity, slightly spicy profile, Linkwood is also associated with Johnnie Walker Green Label. Linkwood is loved by independent bottlers because it offers so much fresh fruit and soft spiciness, and this standard 12-year-old release is a great core expression.
It’s one that blended whisky drinkers should find familiar on both the nose and palate. Mention Linkwood in a group of whisky fans and it’ll usually get a very good reception. Seek it out if you can and consider making it the first single malt you try as a blended whisky drinker.
Tobermory 12 Year Old, 46.3%, $121 / £40 / ₹4,877
This one is a little different. It isn’t a peated whisky, but it has a slightly coastal character, much like Bunnahabhain. Tobermory is a single malt that always perplexes me. Despite being made on the Isle of Mull, the flavor profile starts with sweet honey, toffee, and apple. Then things get interesting.
The flavors in this bottle can morph into slightly savory territory. Think salt, truffle, olive oil, and cardamom. It’s very floral and very distinctive, but still has a welcoming approach.
It’s a challenging and complex first single malt for the blended whisky drinker, especially if Johnnie Walker Blue Label is something you usually reach for.
From Johnnie Walker To Single Malt
When you’re looking to try single malt whiskies, the world can seem endless. There are so many brands, styles, ages, and cask finishes. The best thing to do is head to your local whisky bar, specialist website, or shop and chat to the folks there.
If you love Johnnie Walker Black Label, then Benromach 12 Year Old is a great place to start. If Gold Label is your thing, then Bunnahabhain or Glen Scotia could be the way to go.
Don’t feel intimidated by it. It’s just liquid in a bottle. And if you’re shopping in person, be sure to ask if there’s anything you can try while you’re there.
Read the full article at Drink Johnnie Walker? 5 Single Malts That Make Sense As Your First Bottle
