Review #587 - Johnnie Walker Red Label (1970s Bottling)
Here we have Johnnie Walker Red Label, though this is a different beast than the modern bottling: this was bottled around 50 years ago, in the 1970s. Production methods at distilleries were quite different back then: different grain varieties and malting processes, different condensers, direct-fired stills, different oak quality, different yeast, perhaps even different distilleries altogether. The blending process and age of the stocks was likely different as well, although Johnnie Walker is known for its consistency these days. What effects will all of those differences have on the flavor compared to the modern iterations?
These older bottles of Johnnie Walker are quite opaque when it comes to the details of the blend, just like the new versions. For this Red Label bottle, there's no information of the distilleries included, the cask types used for maturation, or the age of the whisky. All we know is that it was bottled at a strength of 43.4% ABV (a bit higher than the modern 40% ABV), and the bottle size was 4/5 of a quart.
Johnnie Walker Red Label (1970s Bottling)
Scotland - Blend
Available Price: USD 75 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 43.4% ABV
Details: Bottled 1970s
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 20% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Soft tropical fruit - nectarines and peaches, a bit of pear, too. There's a mild grain note, and overall, it's light and bright, quite sweet; time brings a starchy note to the front.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thin; there's a mellow oak note up front, followed by sweet fruits of peach and banana. There's a nice creamy quality to this, and perhaps just a whiff of smoke at times.
Finish: Stone fruit, vanilla, and some oak spice are the main lingering flavors; it's quite a soft finish, and one of medium length. Mellow but not quite bland, and the sweetness is pleasant.
Final Note: This is a big step up from the modern bottlings - so much less of the cheap grain alcohol flavor, so much more sweet fruit, especially tropical fruit or stone fruit. The mouthfeel is still a bit lacking with that lower strength, but that element actually adds to the softer, more refined style of this whisky, quite a contrast to the current style of cheap Johnnie Walker blends. This was fun to taste, and it shows how much of a difference those old production methods (both on the distilling and blending sides) made in the flavor of a whisky.
Value actually isn't too bad on this bottle - these 1970s era blends can still be found for relatively reasonable sums at auction, well under $100. We'll definitely be watching out for them, as it's a great way to taste a bit of history.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.17
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
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