Johnnie Walker Black Ruby

Johnnie Walker Black Ruby surprised me. The caramel sweetness was enjoyable, but the well-balanced smoke and pleasant finish were what made me want to return to the glass. There was one thing I would have liked to change: the peppery spice arrived a little too quickly in the mouth.

Still, by the end of this tasting, I knew this was a bottle I would happily buy again.

This time, there was no food pairing. I wanted to give the whisky my full attention, try a few drops of water, and see what happened after leaving it in the glass for a while. But before getting into the whisky, I have to say something about that label.

…A label that caught my eye…

The black bottle does its job, nothing special and the shape itself didn’t particularly catch my attention. For me, the label does all the work. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful label in the Johnnie Walker range.

Of course, a good-looking label still needs something enjoyable inside it. Once poured, the whisky showed a copper colour, and it was time to find out whether I liked the contents as much as the presentation.

Black Ruby is a blended Scotch whisky bottled at 40% ABV. Johnnie Walker presents it as a sweeter, fruit-forward expression inspired by Black Label. Official Black Ruby background

The nose started with spice and fruit. These were not particularly delicate aromas, and I had to give the glass a little space rather than putting my nose too close straight away.

Underneath that first impression, I found something that reminded me of a crumbly oat biscuit and some cherry. There was also a hint of caramel. That is usually a welcome note for me, and once I found it, I was ready to see how the whisky tasted.

The texture sat somewhere between creamy and oily. I enjoyed that beginning, but the spice arrived quickly. I would have liked a little more time to feel the whisky move around my tongue before the peppery warmth took over.

Then came the surprise: smoke.

It reminded me of burning oak rather than the peaty character. There was enough smoke to notice clearly, but it stayed balanced with the other flavours.

Caramel sweetness remained alongside the pepper. As the whisky left my mouth, a little bitterness appeared, although fortunately it did not stay for long.

The finish was medium in length and didn’t leave my mouth dry. A cherry note lingered at the end, giving the whisky a pleasant final impression.

For me, the finish and the balance of the smoke were the strongest parts of this tasting. I had not anticipated that smoky element, and it caught me off guard in a good way.

A few drops of water

I added a few drops of water to see whether I could slow down that spicy arrival.

On the nose, the spice became a little quieter. The other aromas remained much the same and I didn’t suddenly discover a new collection of flavours hiding underneath.

I tasted it again to be sure. The water gave me slightly more time with the whisky in my mouth before the heat appeared, which I appreciated. Otherwise, the flavour and overall character stayed close to what I had tasted before.

In this glass, with the amount of water I added, the difference was small. It made the whisky a little gentler, but I would not say it transformed the experience.

Would I recommend trying it? Yes, especially if that early peppery heat bothers you. In my opinion the water comes to play when you start adding it to whiskies that are over 45% ABV. Then you can start feeling the difference.

Twelve minutes later…

I also left the whisky alone for about twelve minutes before returning to it.

The nose had become less spicy and more enjoyable. I could bring my nose closer to the glass without being greeted by quite so much heat. That made it easier to spend some time with the aromas.

The taste and finish, however, remained much the same. I still found the sweetness, pepper, balanced smoke, and that fruity ending.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, I would.

Black Ruby feels reasonably priced for the quality it presents, and I would be particularly happy to pick up another bottle. It gave me enough character to enjoy a proper tasting without feeling like a bottle I would only bring out for a very specific occasion.

I could see myself putting it on the table after a regular dinner or sharing it with friends at a celebration.

The sweetness makes it welcoming, while the smoke gives me something more to return to. My main criticism is still the same: that creamy-oily beginning deserves a little longer before the spice steps in.

DWB rating: 8/10

The verdic

A few drops of water softened the experience slightly, and returning to the glass later made the nose more approachable. So leave the water to something stronger and if you have the time then just leave the scotch out for some time. This gives better start to your journey.

Now I am curious to put it beside Black Label and find out which one I would choose in a direct comparison. That will have to be another tasting.

Have you tried Black Ruby? I would be interested to hear whether the smoke stood out to you as much as it did to me.

Until next time, cheers!