🥃 Johnnie Walker Double Black
Smokier Johnnie Walker expression with no age statement, first released in 2010 for global travel retail; 40% ABV on the US page.
Johnnie Walker Double Black is a blended Scotch whisky with no age statement, which the brand presents as smokier than Black Label. According to Difford's Guide, Diageo made it from peated whiskies of the west coast to emphasise the smoke. The brand's US website lists 40% ABV.
Difford's Guide dates the release to January 2010, first in global travel retail. There is no age statement, and the sources do not name the type of casks, so we do not invent one. The official site describes the taste as a long smoky finish. The strength depends on the market: some country pages, for example South Africa, list 43%, so check the label on your own bottle.
Why this matters to you. Double Black is not older than Black Label; it differs in style, with the emphasis on smoke rather than age. So do not look for 12 years in it or compare the two by name. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
|---|---|
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | blend of peated whiskies from the west coast (according to Difford's Guide) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years by law; no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (US); 43% in some markets |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Johnnie Walker Double Black → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Blue Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Blue Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Green Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Green Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label
Frequently asked questions
Is Double Black older than Black Label?
No. Double Black has no age statement; its difference is the smokier style, not the age.
When did Double Black appear?
According to Difford's Guide, in January 2010, first in global travel retail.
What is the strength of Double Black?
40% ABV on the US page, but some markets list 43%, so check the label.
What to read next
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label — Johnnie Walker blended Scotch with a stated age of 12 years, 40% ABV; according to Difford's Guide, around 40 single malts, many of them from Islay.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Caol Ila — Distillery and peated single malt brand near Port Askaig on Islay, founded in 1846; six stills, 6.5 million litres a year; owned by Diageo.
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label — Base line of Johnnie Walker: a blended Scotch at 40% ABV with no age statement, up to 35 whiskies in the blend; according to the brand, the most popular in its range.
Similar
🥃 Johnnie Walker Blue Label · 🥃 Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve · 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label · 🥃 Johnnie Walker Green Label · 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label · 🥃 The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Johnnie Walker: Double Black Label (blended Scotch, lingering smokiness; 40 % on the US page)
- Difford's Guide: Johnnie Walker Double Black (launched January 2010 in global travel retail; peaty West Coast whiskies; 40 %; no age statement)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (blended, blended malt; min. 3 years; min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)