Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish is a blended Scotch whisky with an oak finish matured in sherry casks. The components of the blend were aged for at least 12 years, with the finish taking place in sherry casks from Jerez, which lend the spirit gentle, sweet notes.
The spirit is based on the recipe of the classic Black Label. Sweet fruit and spice come from distilleries such as Clynelish in the Highlands and Cardhu in Speyside, creamy toffee, honeyed sweetness and vanilla from Lowland distilleries such as Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie, and the whole is wrapped in smoke from Caol Ila on the island of Islay. Sherry Finish is the same blend as the twelve-year-old Black Label, but with an undisclosed period of finishing maturation in sherry casks. The producer does not reveal the exact proportions of the individual distillates. The spirit is bottled at 40% ABV.
The aroma reveals sweetness cut through with smoke and a note of pepper. The nose brings fruitcake, dates and dried apricot with spices – ginger and cinnamon – as well as sweet tones of rum, toffee and dark chocolate, while the palate offers pepper, a touch of chilli and a rich sweetness of dried fruit, toffee and burnt caramel. The colour is deep gold with darker depths, and on the palate the rich sweetness of figs combines with the juicier flavour of plums, both derived from the sherry-seasoned casks.
The spirit works well neat or on the rocks, and pairs nicely with sweet accompaniments such as dark fruits, nuts and chocolate after a meal.