Opinions about Johnnie Walker

[jamespowers]

The Black is very good. The Green is a vatted malt. But all Johnnie Walkers are much too expensive. You can get a good bottle of Glennfiddich or something similar single malt for the price.

If you want to have some tasty scotch and don't want to pay a lot, try Grants (made by Glennfiddich and in a similarly triangle bottle) or Ballantines (very sweet and smooth, creamy)

Ballantine's: The choice of Matt Helm.
I've never tried it despite the movie connection.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

I had some of this on Wednesday:
Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V
At $400 or £350 in the UK this is a SEVERE disappointment.

 

[jamespowers]

I had some of this on Wednesday:
Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V
At $400 or £350 in the UK this is a SEVERE disappointment.

Geez, I hope you weren't the guy buying that one. I can think of two or three GREAT single malts that you could have picked up for that price---even in special gold adorned cystal decanters.
Oh and 350 pounds is actually $538.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

Oh and 350 pounds is actually $538.

You're quite right, that is the exchange rate. However, looking at American liquor websites it seems to be available for $400.

Looks like we're getting (even more) ripped off in the UK.

Luckily I didn't pay a penny for it.

 

[Levallois]

Ballantine's: The choice of Matt Helm.
I've never tried it despite the movie connection.

Ballatines has always been a favorite of mine but I didn't know of the Matt Helm connection. I always learn something on the FL. Thanks!

And, I like JW Blue but agree with some of the comments that it is way overpriced. The Gold is a better choice but is still overpriced. I don't ever drink JW Red.

 

[jamespowers]

Ballatines has always been a favorite of mine but I didn't know of the Matt Helm connection. I always learn something on the FL. Thanks!

You need to watch a few old Matt Helm movies. He has a case with his gun and a bottle of Balantine's next to it. Both have special cut outs for a perfect fit. lol

 

[1961MJS]

You need to watch a few old Matt Helm movies. He has a case with his gun and a bottle of Balantine's next to it. Both have special cut outs for a perfect fit. lol

Ah, I didn't remember that from the books.

Later

 

[jamespowers]

Ah, I didn't remember that from the books.

Later

The movies are different. They kind of mold Matt Helm to match Dean Martin's character. Martin was sort of the first to go out there and do a take off of 007 much as Austin Powers did recently.

 

[psugrad98]

The movies are different. They kind of mold Matt Helm to match Dean Martin's character. Martin was sort of the first to go out there and do a take off of 007 much as Austin Powers did recently.

I remember a cartoon where a character had a case that looked like a gun case, but had a huge lollipop (sucker) in it. Is that based on Matt Helm?

 

[jamespowers]

I remember a cartoon where a character had a case that looked like a gun case, but had a huge lollipop (sucker) in it. Is that based on Matt Helm?

Well, there was a gun in the case---next to the bottle of Ballantine's. lol
I know the cartoon now that you mention it though.
Dean's Matt Helm was sort of a functional drunk more than a lollipop sucker though. lol lol
perhaps I need to start a thread on his antics as Matt Helm. He was great in that role. Too bad that he stopped filming them after Sharon Tate's untimely death.

 

[Panache]

I see you're in CA.
If you're near a trader Joes, give this a whirl:

For a daily drinker I've switched from Laphroig to this... and it's $18 a bottle.

Bustercat,

A friend turned me on to Finlaggan a couple months back and it is a very nice single malt for the price (though it's no Highland Park or Balvenie)

As for Johnny Walker Red, I much prefer The Famous Grouse for a blend. Better flavor, smoother, and just more pleasant. Oddly enough I think it is also cheaper, but this may have to do with less name recognition here in the states.

Cheers

Jamie